By Jade Fadrowski
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
When an associate at the Hill Y in Westminster was exposed to COVID-19, all operations shutdown on Halloween and officials immediately began the labor-intensive process of testing staff, notifying parents and revamping policies and rules.
The shutdown was ordered by the Carroll County Health Department. However, 12 days later, the academic center reopened with new safety precautions in place to avoid another potential exposure.
Were lessons learned?
“We all have to be diligent and follow our protocols both at work and in our personal lives,” explained Mike Walters, executive director of the Hill Y. We must “continue to update and critique our protocols to stay safe as we learn more about COVID and how to protect ourselves. This is the first time for this virus and we have no background in doing what is correct or learn from lessons prior.”
Walters added with emphasis: “Stay vigilant and make sure we protect those more vulnerable.”
Walters insisted nothing could have been done to prevent the possibility of exposure, especially before the new safety precautions were developed.
“With continual testing of individuals and the timing of results coming back to families, I don’t believe anything could have been done to prevent the news of a potential exposure,” Walters said. “With the continual evolution of this pandemic, we have no other examples to draw comparison.”
Academic support associates were not happy to learn about the shutdown.
“We were all scared and nervous,” said Syeda Khan, academic support instructor. “We felt the pain of the parents. It’s hard for them to find childcare. Some parents had tears in their eyes when they picked up their kids because they had no clue what to do.”
Despite wondering how they would get paid and when they would return to work, academic support aide Bradyn Jones said the Y did its best to protect her and other associates.
“I didn’t like how abruptly the center shut down, but it was in the best interest of everyone,” Jones said. “Not only for those in the center but at the Y in general. Between sanitizing, hand washing, wearing masks, and remaining socially distanced, there’s not much more we could have done.”
The new safety precautions are thorough, officials said. The center has increased its cleaning procedure, requiring associates to sanitize surfaces every hour and the Y’s cleaning crew to disinfect the rooms at night.
Students are now kept more than six feet apart. Objects like Legos and markers are put in small bags to avoid direct contact. The students stay within the same groups with the same teachers throughout the day. This allows for tracing purposes if necessary.
Temperature checks are required for all associates and students that enter the center. Associates and students entering the center must complete a questionnaire on their background, exposure, and overall health over the last 72 hours. There also has been an updated policy on mask usage at all Y family centers. Associates and students frequently wash their hands.
John Hoey, president and CEO of the Y in Central Maryland, sent out a mass email to associates and members that effective Nov. 18, the Y will require mask usage without exception, unless swimming or showering.
“This is somewhat stricter than the current state requirements, which allows certain exceptions, but we believe that it’s the right thing to do at this time to protect the health of Y members, associates, and the community,” Hoey said.
Prior to this updated mask policy, members were able to pull their masks down when doing intensive cardio or strength training in the Y’s fitness center.
The academic center has always abided by Gov. Larry Hogan’s policies along with the Carroll County Health Department’s protocols and will continue to do so, officials said.
“Moving forward we must stay vigilant and ever aware of our surroundings, continue to follow our strict guidelines, and take every precaution we can to continually follow our procedures,” Walters said. “The great thing is we are very consistent in our approach, our cleaning, and our commitment to doing what is required.”