Group Activities

Activities should be encouraged but modified to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in the facility. The following are, in part, CDC recommendations:

• Fully vaccinated participants may participate in group/social activities together without face masks or physical distancing; if any unvaccinated participants are present during the activity, then all participants in the group activity should wear a well-fitting face mask for source control and should physically distance from others.
• Alter schedules, such as staggering meal and activity times, and creating pods (that is, forming small groups that regularly participate at the same times) and do not mix with individuals in other groups.
• Prioritize outdoor activities over indoor activities when possible.
• Clean tools, materials, and computer or other equipment before and after the participant has finished using them, or at least daily.
• Avoid holding any in-person events that include people who are not staff in the ADHC. If an event is held, follow COVID-19 event considerations.
• Determine maximum group size, ensuring it is in conformance with your local health department guidelines.
• Ensure that the group size is no larger than the space available to maintain physical distancing between each person present, as applicable.
• Consider assigning cohorts to a specific room for their use for the program day.
• Limit and discourage the rotational use of multiple rooms by one group, if another space is required and conditions allow consider moving cohort outside.
• Shorten activity time to reduce exposure.
• Schedule types of activities that allow for staff and participants to wear a face covering during the activity and when moving to and from the activity.
• Create a sign-up sheet for each activity to control the number of clients. Sign-ups should be handled by staff to avoid cross contamination by multiple clients touching the same paper/pen/screen.
  

Isolation

ADHCs should consider CDC recommendations to isolate and transport staff and participants who have symptoms while at the ADHC:

• Plan to have an isolation room or area (preferably with access to a dedicated restroom) you can use to isolate a sick participant or staff member. Ensure that isolated participants are wearing masks, are at a distance of 6 feet or greater from others and remain under supervision.
• Staff should isolate people who begin to have symptoms from others. Prepare a list of all individuals who have been in close contact with sick participant(s) or staff member(s).
• Notify an emergency contact regarding the sick person's symptoms and arrange safe and accessible transportation home. Arrange emergency transport to a healthcare facility for participants or staff with severe symptoms (PDF).
  

• Notify local health officials, staff, participants and visitors, of COVID-19 cases and follow the CDCs community prevention guidance.
  

Participant COVID-19 Vaccination

COVID-19 vaccination is a critical step in the recovery from the pandemic. ADHCs should also monitor the CDC's Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) webpage for additional guidance as it becomes available.

ADHCs may encourage COVID-19 vaccinations for participants and families:

• The Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine trials have demonstrated that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective.
• The COVID-19 vaccine is available at no out-of-pocket cost.
• Post-vaccine signs and symptoms are usually:
• Mild to moderate in severity
• Occur within the first three days of vaccination
• Resolve within 1-2 days of onset
• Less frequent and less severe in adults older than 55 years
  

Participants Rights and COVID-19 Vaccinations

ADHCs must keep in mind the importance of adhering to participant rights throughout the COVID-19 vaccination period, including the right to receive or reject medical care or health related services. Participants who refuse to be vaccinated may not be denied participation in any ADHC activity or service available to any other participant solely based on the decision to not receive the vaccine. Participants who are unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated must always wear a mask unless they are eating or drinking.

Staff Vaccination Requirement

Pursuant to the August 5, 2021 Public Health Order, ADHC staff/HCP who are not exempt are required to be vaccinated. In an ongoing effort to ensure patient safety and to minimize the spread of COVID-19 among vulnerable individuals, CDPH is requiring all HCP who provide services or work in healthcare facilities to receive COVID-19 vaccination. HCP must have completed the vaccination series of either the first dose of a one-dose regimen or their second dose of a two-dose regimen by September 30, 2021. HCP may be exempt from the vaccination requirements only upon providing the operator of the facility a written declination, signed by the individual stating either of the following: (1) the worker is declining vaccination based on Religious Beliefs, or (2) the worker is excused from receiving any COVID-19 vaccine due to Qualifying Medical Reason. Please see AFL 21-34 for additional information related to the vaccine mandate.

Staff COVID-19 Testing and Masking Requirements

CDPH is requiring health care facilities to develop and implement processes for verifying the vaccination status of all HCP, and for obtaining and tracking documentation of weekly SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic screening testing of all HCP who are unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated. Staff cannot opt to regularly test instead of getting vaccinated. Testing will be an alternate means for satisfying the August 5 Public Health Order only for those who are granted an exemption pursuant to the Order.

ADHCs must make their best efforts to comply with the vaccine verification and testing requirements in this AFL, as soon as reasonably possible, with full compliance no later than August 23, 2021. ADHCs can also implement additional infection control policies beyond these requirements, as some already have. For additional information about the testing requirements, see AFL 21-29.

ADHCs must strictly adhere to current CDPH Masking Guidance. To the extent they are already applicable, ADHCs must also continue to adhere to Cal/OSHA's standards for Aerosol Transmissible Diseases (ATD), which requires respirator use in areas where suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases may be present, and the Emergency Temporary Standards (ETS) that requires all unvaccinated workers be provided a respirator upon request. For additional information about masking requirements see AFL 21-29.

Transportation

ADHCs should follow the CDC guidance for transporting participants:

• Schedule and stagger drop off or pick up times for participants to avoid crowding.
• Encourage physical distancing among staff and participants at the entrance and exit during these drop off and pick up times with use of visual cues like tapes and signs.
• Fully vaccinated participants may be seated together without physical distancing in transport vehicles; otherwise, seat participants at least 6 feet apart while in transport vehicles.
• Create participant pods (keeping small groups together) to limit mixing and create distance between passengers (for example, skip rows) when possible.
• Require mask wearing and encourage physical distancing among staff and participants at the entrance and exit during these drop off and pick up times with use of visual cues like tapes and signs. 
  

If you have any questions about infection prevention and control of COVID-19, please contact the CDPH Healthcare-Associated Infections Program via email at HAIProgram@cdph.ca.gov or novelvirus@cdph.ca.gov.

Please remember to immediately report suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19 to your local public health department (PDF) and your district office.

Sincerely,

Original signed by Cassie Dunham

Cassie Dunham

Acting Deputy Director

Resources

• CDC Guidance for Adult Day Services Centers
  

[1] Health Care Personnel refers to all paid and unpaid individuals who work in indoor settings where (1) care is provided to patients, or (2) patients have access for any purpose. This includes HCP serving in health care or other health care settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or SARS-CoV-2 airborne aerosols. HCP include, but are not limited to, nurses, nursing assistants, physicians, technicians, therapists, phlebotomists, pharmacists, students and trainees, contractual staff not employed by the health care facility, and persons not directly involved in patient care, but who could be exposed to infectious agents that can be transmitted in the health care setting (e.g., clerical, dietary, environmental services, laundry, security, engineering and facilities management, administrative, billing, and volunteer personnel).