CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE

BC’s Restart Plan

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The Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of British Columbia has always acknowledged that our employees and volunteers are our most important asset, as well as our support acknowledging your commitment as representatives to your community. It is that commitment that we work to make sure decisions made are informed and considerate of our community.  If we are not informed, communication outside the Association will be more difficult.

As the number of reported cases of the coronavirus (2019-nCoV) rises worldwide, we are all increasingly concerned for our health and safety.    We are daily inundated with news regarding this virus.  

We need to ensure everyone is making precautions, including the following:

• Encouraging employees to stay home when they are sick.
• Allowing for employees to interview clients through telephone calls when clients are unable or unwilling to visit our offices. 
• Reviewing policies where people with flu symptoms are not allowed access to the workplace this includes workers, contractors and visitors.
• Post information regularly in a highly visible location. This will be a physical location, email, and the Association’s website www.nccabc.ca  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that employees should:

• Stay home if they have respiratory symptoms (coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath) and/or a temperature above 100.4 F.
• Leave work if you develop these symptoms while at the workplace.
• Shield coughs and sneezes with a tissue, elbow, or shoulder (not bare hands).
• Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Please avoid shaking hands entirely to reduce the risk of spreading infection. 

As hand washing is one of the most effective defenses, employees must have access to washing facilities and are well stocked with soap and (ideally) paper towels.  There is some evidence that paper towel drying is less likely to spread viruses than jet dryers. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers and sanitizing wipes must be distributed throughout the workplace, and all frequently touched surfaces such as workstations, telephones, countertops and doorknobs should be routinely cleaned. Increased cleaning of common areas using standard cleaning agents can also reduce risk of spread of this respiratory disease.

The NCCABC will provide you with timely information as it becomes available.  We are aware this pandemic will cause a lot of anxiety and we encourage you to reach out to your Manager and Head Office personnel for support.  We are all in this together.

Darlene Shackelly
Executive Director

Links concerning Coronavirus

COVID-19 – BC Centre for Disease Control

COVID-19 – HealthLink BC Joint Statement on COVID-19

COVID-19 – Government of Canada Website Updates

Native Courtworker Support During Court Closures