Good afternoon from all of us at your YMCA in Greenfield,
We understand that you and your family may have concerns and questions about the recent outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and how it may impact our communities, including here at your YMCA in Greenfield. While the outbreak is a public health concern, the Center for Disease Control (CDC), continues to report that the immediate risk to the general public remains low at this time.
As of this writing, Massachusetts has one confirmed case of COVID-19 and the risk to our area residents remains low. In the United States, there are currently a little more than 100 confirmed cases (42 of which originated on the Diamond Princess Cruise ship) spread across 17 states, including Massachusetts.
As with seasonal flu and strep infections, there are general precautions we can all take to remain as healthy as possible.
- Practice good hand hygiene. Wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
- When coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue. You can also cough or sneeze into your sleeve.
- Avoid sharing drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, dishes, towels, or other items.
- Whenever possible, avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you or your family members are sick, please stay at home.
- Practice other good health habits. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, at work, at your YMCA, or at school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
The Novel Coronavirus is an evolving situation that we are monitoring closely, including following national guidelines and recommendations provided to us through our parent organization, the Y-USA.
We are taking steps within your Y to best ensure your health and safety, including working with our professional cleaning service and our own Y employees to ensure close attention to sanitization of our public spaces, including bathrooms, locker rooms, fitness rooms and equipment, and child care areas. We have now established Purell sanitizer stations throughout our facility.
We are also taking steps to upgrade our in-facility methods and materials for our members to self-clean machines after personal use. We recognize that our historical practice of providing spray bottles filled with chlorinated water wiped on with black reusable towels is not the best we can do on behalf of our members’ health nor for our environment. It is also not a best practice amongst YMCA’s nationwide.
Therefore, we are actively exploring sources via which we can purchase - and distribute throughout your YMCA - cleaning items such as bio-degradable sanitizing wipes and/or sanitizing foam dispensers to be used in conjunction with disposable bio-degradable paper towels. Thank you for your support and understanding. While we recognize that change can be difficult, we also hope that you respect our on-going efforts to best ensure that you and your family and fellow YMCA members have a safe, clean fitness, community, and school environment.
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