Coronavirus – COVID-19
10 March 2020
Capron Company considers the health and safety of our employees and their families a top priority. The new novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is in the news and will impact how we conduct business in the coming weeks, months and maybe years.
Prevention
According to health experts, one of the most effective ways to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to regularly wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Take advantage of the use of hand sanitizer when soap and water is not available.
Those same health experts also recommend keeping your distance from others and avoiding crowds, which includes public transportation during rush hour. For the near future, it would also be sensible to avoid concerts and large sporting events.
Keeping the Workplace Safe
Simple everyday practices that can be used both at home and in the workplace to protect against bacteria and viruses:
• Wash your hands frequently;
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of your elbow; and
• Avoid touching your face.
In addition, clean personal workspace items that are frequently touched with cleaning wipes available in the kitchen areas and the front desk.
Signs of illness from COVID-19 (similar to influenza)
Fever, cough, body aches, fatigue; sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. The symptoms can be mild or severe, possibly leading to pneumonia. COVID-19 is not treatable with antibiotics, which only work on bacterial infections, but may be treated by addressing symptoms, such as reducing fever. Most people recover within a few days. However, some people — especially the elderly or people who have a weakened immune system — may develop a more serious infection, such as bronchitis or pneumonia.
If you have a fever, cough or shortness of breath, do not report for work. If someone lives in your household who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, do not report to work.
There are now tests for COVID-19 available through your primary care physician which in most cases are covered by the Capron Company (Cigna) network. Further information on COVID-19 is available here:
District of Columbia 1-202-576-1117
Maryland 1-410-767-6700 or 410-795-7365 (after business hours)
Montgomery County Residents 240-777-1755 or 311.
Virginia 1-877-ASK-VDH3 (1-877-275-8343)
West Virginia 1-304-558-5358, Ext. 1
All Montgomery County residents are encouraged to stay updated on developing COVID-19 information at the Maryland Department of Health’s web page at https://phpa.health.maryland.gov/Pages/Novel-coronavirus.aspx
Personal Leave
It is permissable to use personal leave (PTO) when staying at home to manage family COVID-19 infections. See the CCI Personal Leave policy:
Family Needs
If you have children who are impacted by a school closing and this presents a hardship, let your supervisor know and we will support you if possible. If you are able to work from home to accommodate family needs, you are expected to maintain your productivity and high level of performance when working remotely.
Plan Ahead
If you have a CCI notebook workstation, take your laptop chargers and peripherals home with you after work so you are prepared to work from home if needed.
We will continue to monitor COVID-19. If you have immediate concerns, speak with your supervisor.
CAPRON COMPANY, INC.
Jim Capron
14 March 2020 UPDATE
CCI Team,
Here are some additional updates and suggestions to the company policy I sent earlier this week.
All CCI employees are required to notify the office or their supervisor when any member in their family has tested positive to COVID-19 or is isolated (quarantined) at home. Contact the office or your supervisor before going to work.
The Capron Company Group Health Benefit Plan added a benefit two years ago to include free access to TelaDoc (https://www.teladoc.com). TelaDoc is a 24 hour service that allows you to talk directly with a doctor or other health professional. You can call TelaDoc for answers to any questions that you might ask a nurse or doctor at a hospital emergency room or in a doctor’s office.
This CDC website seems to be updated regularly: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Be smart and stay healthy,
Jim
19 March 2020 UPDATE
CCI Team,
At this time, Capron Company is operational and continuing to serve our customers but we cannot continue in business without every team member’s help. Remember, if you or a member of your family have the signs of illness listed above, do not go to work.
Until further notice, there will be no more Monday Service or Systems meetings. Your supervisors will instruct you on how to turn in or pick up your paperwork. Time sheets can be submitted by taking a photo of your paper timesheet and sending it to the office. You should also avoid jobsite meetings with more than two or three persons.
Think ahead and stay healthy.
Jim
