PRINCIPLES & ASSUMPTIONS
Source: http://bit.ly/QueerCareResources
1. Anyone could be infected with the virus, and could be spreading it asymptomatically. Anyone could be already infected with other illnesses or have underlying chronic health conditions that could worsen outcomes or cause further problems.
2. The aim of community organisations should be to prevent as many infections happening as possible, and where this isn’t possible, reduce the number of cases that need an ICU.
3. The primary way to do this is to reduce the exposure of people at high risk of developing severe or critical illness as a result of the virus.
4. Public transport is a common location of virus spread.
5. A solution of bleach at 10% can be used for disinfecting surfacesthat are clean of visible dirt or contaminants, if left on a surface for more than ten minutes (WHO Guidelines).
6. Washing hands thoroughly with soap or with alcohol based hand sanitizer is effective at removing the virus, and preventing it being passed onto things touched by those hands, until they touch an infected surface.
7. It is essential that people feel able to, and are able to, reach out to community support organisations, to ensure they have options other than leaving the house and spreading or being infected by the virus. This means they need to feel those organisations can be trusted with their data, and as such it is vital to prevent data from being used for any purpose apart from than providing support
POLICIES FOR DOING SUPPORT WORK
1. People doing support work should have as low a chance of being infected as is possible.
2. If people are infected, they should have as low a chance of passing on the infection as is possible. Systems should be designed on the assumption that anyone is infected.
3. If someone is showing symptoms of infection, it should be easy to trace all contact they have had with at-risk people. They should cease doing support work immediately.
4. The minimum number of people should be able to have direct or indirect contact with at-risk people, in order to reduce their possible exposure to infection.
5. All meetings should be done remotely through digital means where possible. Where it is absolutely necessary for people to meet, they should have minimal contact.
6. Thorough hand washing should be done frequently, and always done following touching the face, or using public transportation.
7. Wearing gloves should be done while handling all items which may be given to people who are immuno-compromised and while in proximity to anyone who may be infected. Aprons should be worn around anyone who may be infected.
8. All items given to someone at risk must be disinfected on all surfaces that will be handled by them.
9. Public transport should be avoided where possible. Where this is unavoidable, public transport should be used by as few people as possible as infrequently as possible.
10. Disinfection must be carried out after items are taken on public transport.
11. Masks should be worn where possible, by both people doing support, and people needing support, but if in short supply should be prioritized for situations where people must come into close physical proximity. Masks should be worn in line with manufacturer recommendations, which for paper masks is no more than 15 minutes of effective use