Staying Informed – Safeguarding Your Health
The YMCA of the Inland Northwest is closely monitoring this developing public health situation. As such, we are instituting best practices to reduce transmission risks and protect the health and wellness of our members, program participants, staff and families, as well as community members. Please review and follow these revised procedures and speak with your branch leadership team if you have any questions.
Currently, there are NO confirmed cases of COVID19 in our YMCA communities (Spokane WA, Sandpoint ID).
ENSURE RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR
Good Hygiene – continues to be critical for everyone regardless of age, health history, and current wellness/illness status. This behavior can help reduce the spread of the virus and keep our Y community healthy. Continue to follow the prevention recommendations of the CDC.
Social Distancing – This means avoiding close contact by staying 3-6 feet from others. Discontinue shaking hands, hugging, etc. Go with elbow bumps or air high 5s instead.
Vulnerable Groups – If you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 because of age (older adults) or due to a serious long-term health problem (such as heart disease, diabetes, lung disease), it is extra important to take actions to reduce your risk of getting sick with the disease. Please consult with your health care provider about additional steps you may be able to take to protect yourself.
Minimize Contact – where and when possible.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
We can all do our part to prevent the spread of illness in our community.
- We STRONGLY encourage those with risk factors to suspend YMCA activities. We will assess Active Older Adult and chronic disease programs daily and may consider canceling if cases are confirmed in Spokane and Bonner counties.
Please continue to:
- Stay home if you or children are showing any symptoms of illness
- When visiting the YMCA, clean exercise equipment before and after every use
- Wash your hands often and properly (20 seconds)
- Avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth
- Cover a cough or sneeze with tissue, shirt if necessary when in a Y, or elbow as a last option
ONGOING YMCA ACTIONS
Staff are cleaning frequently touched surfaces throughout the facility, including items used during classes, weights, doorknobs, exercise equipment, Family Activity area and features, toys in Child Watch, and handrails, etc. We have added additional staff hours to ensure consistent cleaning of common surface areas.
Our cleaning and disinfectant spray has a 30 second disinfection window unlike other products that take longer.
The Y remains open to serve our community. Any facility and/or schedule adjustments will be communicated first via our App followed closely by our website and social accounts, Facebook and Twitter.
We continue to closely monitor information and guidelines from the:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
World Health Organization (WHO)
Washington State Dept of Health
Spokane Regional Health District
Idaho Dept of Health & Welfare
The YMCA is committed to giving everyone a safe place to learn, grow and thrive.