Covid-19 Protocols

Due to the rapid increase in COVID infections in Arizona the following protocols must be followed immediately.

1. Masks must be worn by all staff, vaccinated or not, at all times at your desk and all other locations in the office and while providing rides and other

services to VVCC neighbors. We can provide you with a supply of disposable

masks. This applies to individuals regardless of whether you have had

COVID in the past.

2. Masks must be worn by all volunteers and staff drivers while serving and

transporting neighbors and performing any other VVCC duties.

3. If you are feeling sick, and/or coughing, fever (99.4 degrees or above) STAYHOME! Always call the Program Manager or Executive Director at least by the beginning of the workday or sooner to report that you are ill and

notable to work.

4. Wash your hands often at the office. Use hand sanitizer often while

providing transportation and other assistance.

5. We encourage all staff and volunteers to get vaccinated for COVID.

Although we do not require you to be vaccinated to work or serve at VVCC,

we must maintain a safe workplace and we must do all we can to protect

the at-risk elderly we serve. Please take this seriously, and rely on the best,

evidenced-based facts to make your decision regarding getting vaccinated.

Information regarding the efficacy and safety of COVID vaccination are

available at www.cdc.gov and www.azdhs.gov.

6. We encourage staff and volunteers to not come into close contact with

individuals known to be positive for COVID-19 or any of the active variants

or taking part in activities that would increase your exposure to infected

individuals.

7. If you have known exposure to someone infected with COVID, you must

quarantine at home for 14 days or submit results of a negative COVID

test.

8. Clean your workspace each day both at the beginning and the close of

business. Use the 70% alcohol wipes we provide.

9. Please encourage your passengers to wear a mask while in the vehicle,

even if they have been vaccinated. Offer the passenger a disposable mask

to wear and let them know that VVCC strongly encourages them to wear a

mask while in the vehicle.

10. Staff drivers are encouraged to clean passenger surface areas of their

vehicles after each passenger, using 70% alcohol wipes. Staff drivers must

sanitize interior surfaces of their vehicles after each workday, using 70%

alcohol wipes and an alcohol sprayer. Clean the vehicle floors using the

VVCC vacuum cleaner or broom, and a mop with soapy water.

11. VVCC and its Board of Directors reserve the right to modify and change this policy and these procedures without prior notice based on new information

or changes in the level of risk for infection present in the region and areas we serve. The level of risk will be informed by information from the CDC,

Arizona Department of Health Services and VVCC’s medical consultants and

the Board of Directors.

12. Please stay safe and help prevent our fellow employees, volunteers, and

neighbors from contracting the COVID-19 virus, or any of the variants.

If you arrive at a neighbor's home and the neighbor is sick and you suspect he/she may have COVID-19 -- Call the hotline Below.  

• Call Northern Arizona Healthcare Hotline 928-773-2301 
• Call 911 only for true imminently life-threatening emergency if COVID-19 suspected.
• Notify operator/dispatcher if you suspect neighbor has symptoms of COVID-19 or has been exposed. 

Identify self– “I am _______(name) _______, working for VV Caregivers, a volunteer transport organization for the elderly. I am not medical personnel.”

Identify issue- “I am with  _________ _________, a ______(age)(gender) who has symptoms of________________ __________________ _____________ _______________.”

[We should only be concerning ourselves if symptoms are – fever, cough, shortness of breath, exposure to prior COVID case]

Identify concern - “I am concerned about the potential presence of COVID-19.”

Identify request- “Can you provide advice; we have limited transport vehicles and need to limit contamination of those vehicles if COVID is a reasonable concern.”

“If you are recommending testing, where should the patient [not neighbor] be sent?”

• Neighbor screened when requesting service (see above)
• Volunteer sanitizes hands before entering home and leaving home
• Remain a reasonable distance away
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• Always cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze - using a tissue

Shopping With Neighbor

• Driver wipes down all touchable surfaces in vehicle before pickup
• Driver sanitizes hands before
• Driver escorts neighbor to van with minimal touching for safety in walking and getting into car
• Driver asks neighbor to please sit in back seat
• At store, assist with selecting and placing items in the cart and in the van
• Sanitize hands before driving
• Carry groceries to the homes and place on a level surface nearest the door
• Sanitize hands before entering his/her car to drive away.

Neighbor Needs Grocery Pick up 

• Neighbor contacts store online and gives list and pays
• Volunteer or van driver picks up the items
• Volunteer/van driver delivers food and places on level surface nearest the door
• Volunteer/van driver sanitizes hands before entering the car to drive away

Shopping For 

• Neighbor calls request in and states paying with check or credit card
• Neighbor gives Call Center list of grocery items to be purchased or will give to volunteer along with payment, and/or SNAP card at the door before shopping
• Volunteer/van driver delivers groceries following protocols above
• If VVCC is paying for groceries up front: Call Center collects credit card info at time of request
• List is typed and given or emailed to volunteer/van driver
• Volunteer/van driver takes picture of receipt and emails to VVCC.
• Neighbor gives volunteer/van driver check to take back to office if not paid with credit card