Dear members, families, and friends of The BridgeLine community:
The progress of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) throughout the world and across our country continues to be the subject of intense interest. The BridgeLine is closely monitoring the latest information on COVID-19 provided by the Thomas Jefferson Health District of the Virginia Department of Health, the WHO, and the CDC.
We have taken measures in accordance with our pandemic response plan to increase social distancing for staff and program participates. We have a phased response plan to react to the latest developments that involves increasingly more stringent measures to provide a clean and safe environment for program participants and staff. There have been few cases in Virginia to date but we expect that to change in the coming days. I want you to know that the safety and security of our program participants, employees, and all families involved is our top priority.
Our plan is dynamic and will be revised as new information becomes available. It addresses the infection control measures we will take prior to and in the event of a local outbreak, and we follow the guidelines of the Virginia Department of Health.
We are fortunate to have outstanding and dedicated staff and we will continue to keep you updated.
Please let us know if you have any questions and we will try to answer them.
Sincerely,
Daniela Pretzer, MD PhD
Executive Director
P.S.
We encourage you to stay informed by seeking accurate information from authoritative sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the WHO, and the Virginia Department of Health. Also, the Thomas Jefferson Health District is operating a hotline (434-972-6261) to respond to any questions or concerns you may have regarding the latest COVID-19 information. The hotline is accepting calls Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Personal infection control measures are very important in preventing and combating COVID-19, as well as all types of flu and influenza. We appreciate your cooperation and partnership in emphasizing the following measures at both home and at The BridgeLine:
- Properly and frequently wash hands.
- Avoid touching nose, mouth and eyes.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or one’s sleeve; follow with hand washing.
- Keep program participants at home when sick.