COVID-19 UPDATE

The Y is CLOSED. 
We will reopen on
Tuesday, March 17 at 5:30 a.m.

March 13, 2020

Hello,

Your Y cares about your health and wellness, takes its commitment to social responsibility seriously and is working hard to ensure our members and community have the most up-to-date information .

On Thursday, we notified our community that a Y employee has been tested for COVID-19. At this time, we do not know the results of the test, but we plan to release the test results as soon as we know.

Due to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) regulations, we are only able to share broad information regarding this individual staff member. This individual self-reported the COVID-19 testing to a supervisor. It is important to note that  this employee was not working at the YMCA while exhibiting the primary symptoms of COVID-19 : fever and dry cough. This employee is not hospitalized and they are recovering at home.

At this time, we want to provide some facts associated with the COVID-19 virus from the CDC and conversations with Lane County Public Health that may assuage some fears and answer some questions:
  • You have a low-risk factor for Covid-19 exposure from being in the same indoor environment as a person with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 for a prolonged period of time ("prolonged" is  currently defined in Oregon as greater than one hour). 
  • However, if you come in close contact with a person with symptomatic COVID-19, your risk increases to medium. ("Close contact" is being within approximately 6 feet or having direct contact with infectious secretions, such as the result of a cough.)
  • There is no known risk from brief interactions with a person with symptomatic laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection as long as your only exposure is associated with low-risk conditions such as walking by the person or being briefly in the same room.
  • The virus can live on hard surfaces for 3 days.
  • Hand washing and social distancing are the two best ways to avoid potential exposure.  
These facts informed our decision to voluntarily close the Eugene Y
on Thursday, March 12 at 2:30 p.m. and remain closed until Tuesday, March 17 at 5:30 a.m. Staff will be in the building Monday to conduct a deep clean and sanitization.

Our list of schedule changes and closures is evolving as we learn new information. As of today, we have added Aikido classes and Afterschool Junior Tennis Program to the list of those that are canceled through the end of the month.

Also, we will NOT be open for Child Care from March 17 through March 20. Child care includes our two preschool rooms, PlayCare and schools-out programming.

We still  plan to open for Spring Break Camp on Monday, March 23 and include the additional days of Monday, March 30 and Tuesday, March 31.  Rainbows and Friends will also open back up on Monday, March 23.

Youth Sport Spring Basketball season will now start on April 13 and end on May 31 (the schedule is 2 weeks later).  Additional possible schedule adjustments may occur.

Thank you for your understanding and patience as we navigate this uncharted territory and assess information from trusted public health officials. Please note that we will keep you up-to-date through e-mails and information posted to our Website. Check   HERE  for updates.

Below is the email sent Thursday, March 12, to all members regarding our changed guidelines, schedules and practices. It has been updated to reflect new information:

GUIDELINES
Staff and members will be required to return home if they are at the YMCA with any symptoms that could be attributed to the coronavirus or flu:
  • Fever (100.4° F [38° C] or greater using an oral thermometer) in the past 24 hours
  • Signs of a fever
  • Cough or shortness of breath within last 24 hours
  • Use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g. cough suppressants).
If we are unable to properly staff our programs, we will cancel classes or programs on a case-by-case basis (this includes afterschool sites).

At this time any staff or child that has a cough, fever, or difficulty breathing will be sent home.

SCHEDULES
Your Y's adjusted schedule aims to protect our most vulnerable populations. Until April 1, 2020, y our Y has chosen to   CANCEL:  

Land-based classes
  • Tai Chi/Qigong
  • Low-Impact Aerobics
  • Strength and Stretch
  • Strong & Balanced
  • Basic Strength
  • EnhanceFitness
  • Hatha Yoga 
    Tues/Thurs-7:15 a.m.
    Sunday-10 a.m.
    Friday-9 a.m. 
  • Edgu
  • Kundalini Yoga
  • Beginner Yoga Thurs, noon
  • Gentle Yoga: Tue/Th-9 a.m., M/W/F-10:30 a.m., Monday-noon, Sat- 9:15 a.m., Sun-11:20 a.m.
  • Aikido classes
Water-based classes
  • Gentle Water Aerobics
  • Mindful Motion
  • Keep Moving
  • Arthritis Fitness
NOTE: During the water-based class pool times, the pool will be open without lap lanes to allow for aqua jog and water walking in place of previously scheduled classes.

Tennis Center
  • Tennis Senior Mixer
  • Afterschool Junior Tennis Program
Additional closures or affected schedules include:
  • Sauna and steam rooms closed until April 1. 
  • Play Care closed until March 23. Schedules will be determined as staff wellness is assessed.
  • Spring session of LIVE STRONG ® at the YMCA is postponed until fall.
  • Spring session of the YMCA's Diabetes Prevention Program classes is postponed.
  • Middle School Madness, Saturday, March 14 is canceled.
  • Lunchtime Lecture:  Optimal Core Alignment,  Wednesday, March 18, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. is canceled.
  • Also, we will NOT be open for Child Care from March 17 through the 20. Child care includes our two preschool rooms, PlayCare and schools-out programming.
  • We still  plan to open for Spring Break Camp on Monday, March 23 and include the additional days of Monday, March 30 and Tuesday, March 31.  Rainbows and Friends will also open back up on Monday, March 23.
Youth Sports
Basketball
Registration is extended from Friday, March 13 to Wednesday, March 18. The coaches meeting on March 18 is cancelled and all coaches will be contacted by the Youth Sports Director with an alternative plan. Spring season will now start on April 13 and end on May 31 (the schedule is 2 weeks later). Additional possible schedule adjustments may occur.

Pleasant Hill / Creswell Soccer
Registration is extended from Friday, March 13 to Wednesday, March 18. Parents will be contacted during the week of spring break (March 23-27) regarding practice schedules. 

We realize some may view this is extreme, but your Y is home to thousands of people of all ages, including our most vulnerable and immune-compromised individuals.  We take that very seriously.

PRACTICES:
As you have likely already heard, your Y's standard housekeeping practices have increased in order to be extra diligent about sanitizing high-use areas. This will continue once we reopen on Tuesday, March 17.
  • Hand sanitizer stations are located throughout the Y and will be monitored to ensure that they are well stocked. We have added antibacterial and antiviral wipes in high-use areas around the Y.
  • We are reminding all members to clean equipment BEFORE and AFTER workouts with provided antibacterial/antiviral wipes or the Y's equipment spray and towels.
  • Our staff will be cleaning door knobs, light switches, counter tops, equipment, handles, and other frequently touched surfaces  much more frequently throughout the day.
In addition, a deep clean and full sanitation will occur Monday, March 16. All fitness equipment, locker rooms and frequently used spaces will be thoroughly scrubbed and sanitized.

We are learning new information daily, and we are responding as needed. Please know that as soon as we make a change that will affect you, we will notify you immediately. We are following the Centers for Disease Control, Oregon Health Authority, and Lane County Public Health suggested protocols.

That said, vulnerable populations should take responsibility for their own health and well-being. People with weakened immune systems, people over 65 and children under 2-years-old may experience more severe symptoms and consequences if they contract COVID-19 because their immune systems are not fully functional. Your Y recommends staying away from places where social distancing is not possible. 

(Social distancing is a term applied to certain actions that are taken by Public Health officials to stop or slow down the spread of a highly contagious disease. Social distancing measures are taken to restrict when and where people can gather to stop or slow the spread of infectious diseases. Social distancing measures include limiting large groups of people coming together, closing buildings and canceling events.)

Thank you so much for your support. We understand this information may elicit questions. We are always happy to answer your questions and respond to your concerns. 

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