SRS Homestay: Complete Covid-19 Preparedness & Response Plan

The safety of our students and hosts is our top priority. These guidelines are taken from CDC.gov and should be reviewed prior to arrival.

Updated over a week ago

SRS recognizes the importance of having a plan in place to prevent the infection and should any student or host family member be infected by a virus such as COVID-19.

SRS management consistently reviews the following for updates, regulations and requirements and requires all students and hosts to adhere to any guidelines set by the following government agencies:

Students also need to adhere to any guidelines set by their school. The following guidelines are taken from the CDC and will be updated regularly as new data and guidelines are released.

Protocols for Student Arrivals – New Placements:

SRS asks all students to follow CDC recommendations for student travel to the host family home. Including the following:

  • Don’t travel with someone who is sick.

  • Wear a mask to keep your nose and mouth covered when in public settings, including on public transportation and in transportation hubs such as airports and stations.

  • Avoid close contact by staying at least 6 feet apart (about 2 arms’ length) from anyone who is not from your household.

  • Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol).

  • Avoid contact with anyone who is sick.

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Students are not required by SRS to be tested for COVID-19. If the state, county, or student’s school requires testing, SRS can provide an option for students to be tested at home. Students are also not required by SRS to Quarantine. If the state, county, local government or student’s school requires self-quarantine, the student will quarantine at the host family home according the CDC Quarantine Guidelines. SRS will verify with the Host Family before departure that they are willing and comfortable to house a student during a self-quarantine if required.

Guidelines to Protect Yourself and Others:

The CDC recommends the following for guidelines to protect yourself and others:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

  • Avoid Close Contact:

    • Inside your home: Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

    • Outside your home: Put 6 feet of distance between yourself and people who don’t live in your household

  • Cover your mouth and nose with a mask when around others

  • Cover coughs and sneezes

  • Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.

  • Be alert for symptoms. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19. Stay home if you are sick or showing symptoms of being sick.

Common Signs of Infection:

Center For Disease Control (CDC) states that common signs of infection include:

  • Fever or chills

  • Cough

  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

  • Fatigue

  • Muscle or body aches

  • Headache

  • New loss of taste or smell

  • Sore throat

  • Congestion or runny nose

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Diarrhea

*This list does not include all possible symptoms. The CDC continues to update this list as they learn more about COVID-19.

If you are sick:

If you are sick with COVID-19 or think you might have COVID-19, follow the steps below to care for yourself and to help protect other people in your home and community.

  • Isolate if you are sick – People who are in isolation should stay home until it’s safe for them to be around others. In the home, anyone sick or infected should separate themselves from others by staying in a specific “sick room” or area and using a separate bathroom (if available).

  • Stay home except to get medical care – Most people with COVID-19 have mild illness and can recover at home without medical care. Do not leave your home, except to get medical care. Do not visit public areas.

  • Take care of yourself. Get rest and stay hydrated. Take over-the-counter medicines, such as acetaminophen, to help you feel better.

  • Stay in touch with your doctor. Call before you get medical care. Be sure to get care if you have trouble breathing, or have any other emergency warning signs, or if you think it is an emergency.

  • Avoid public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis.

  • Separate yourself from other people including members of your household.

  • As much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people and pets in your home.

  • If possible, you should use a separate bathroom.

  • If you are sick, wear a mask over your nose and mouth if you need to be around other people or animals in or outside of the home.

  • Avoid sharing personal household items. Do not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people in your home. Wash these items thoroughly after using them with soap and water or put in the dishwasher.

  • Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces in your “sick room” and bathroom; wear disposable gloves. Let someone else clean and disinfect surfaces in common areas, but you should clean your bedroom and bathroom, if possible.

  • Tell your host family members/student, and close contacts that they may have been exposed to COVID-19. If you are Under 18 years of age, ensure you have informed your host and your SRS manager. An infected person can spread COVID-19 starting 48 hours (or 2 days) before the person has any symptoms or tests positive. By letting your close contacts know they may have been exposed to COVID-19, you are helping to protect everyone.

  • If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, someone from the health department may call you. Answer the call to slow the spread.

  • Monitor your symptoms.

  • Follow care instructions from your healthcare provider and local health department. Your local health authorities may give instructions on checking your symptoms and reporting information.

When to seek emergency medical attention:

Look for emergency warning signs* for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:

  • Trouble breathing

  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest

  • New confusion

  • Inability to wake or stay awake

  • Bluish lips or face

*This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

  • Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.

  • Call the SRS office or our 24 hour Emergency number: 1-833-766-6789, ext. 4


Advice for Host Parents

Caring for someone who is sick at home

If a host family member, or student becomes sick, host parents should refer to the CDC’s advice to protect themselves and others https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/care-for-someone.html. Be sure you have informed SRS if a student or host family member is sick.

🚨Call 911 if you have a medical emergency or feel like you can't breathe. If you have a medical emergency and need to call 911, notify the operator that you have or think you might have COVID-19. If possible, put on a facemask before medical help arrives.

Develop a plan for your household

  1. Talk with the people who need to be included in your plan, children, grandparents, and our student(s).

  2. Plan ways to care for those who might be at greater risk. *elderly and people with underlying health conditions

  3. Get to know your neighbors and talk to them about emergency planning

  4. Identify aid organization in your community- list of local organizations for contact, health department, hospitals, support, food, and other supplies

  5. Create an emergency contact list.

  6. Practice the Guidelines to Protect Yourself and Others as mentioned above.

  7. Choose a room in your home that can be used to separate sick household members from those who are healthy

  8. Learn about the emergency operations plan at your student’s school and your employer

  9. Use a separate room and bathroom you prepared for sick household members (if possible)

  10. Stay in touch with others by phone or email (stay in touch with SRS staff)

  11. Notify SRS as soon as possible if someone is sick at home with COVID-19 symptoms (cough, fever, shortness of breath)

  12. Discourage children and our students from gathering in other public places while school is dismissed to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in the community

  13. Talk to your family members including your student(s) about your plan and how to cope during an outbreak in the community

For additional and updated information on COVID-19 please refer to CDC website.

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