Hilltoppers,
Over the weekend the Mesa County Health Department moved into “Phase 2” of the Safer at Home orders. Here at Hilltop we are choosing to continue on our slow and steady course. You might not see many drastic changes yet, but we are initiating a few updated protocols regarding mask usage, facility entry, cross-campus visitations, group meetings, and meals.
Masks– I think we have all done a great job of championing masks. As the use of masks in public gets more politicized, Hilltoppers have embraced their usage and necessity to keep our clients, residents, and each other safe. We will continue to require visitors, employees, and volunteers within Hilltop buildings to wear a mask. Residents are still strongly encouraged to wear masks. Exceptions to this protocol will be those that work in isolated areas. *NEW* if you are seated at a work station, break area, or conference room, without frequent foot traffic, and with a minimum of six feet between others, masks may be removed. Once you or others start to move about the area, masks must be put back on.
Visitors– We will continue to screen everyone entering a Hilltop facility, including questionnaires for guests, employees signing in, and making sure they don’t have a temperature. Residential facilities will still only allow essential visitors. We are loosening some restrictions on non-residential facilities to include visitors with a business purpose, approval from program leadership, and/or advanced notice – all while maintaining social distancing and complying with campus/facility rules.
Meetings– We are still maintaining lower occupancy rates of meeting rooms and safe social distancing practices when attending in person meetings. The question has come up about resuming meetings at restaurants now that businesses are allowed to open up at 50% capacity rather than the 30% we’ve seen in past weeks. At this time, these meetings are not encouraged and may only occur if social distancing of a minimum of six feet can be maintained at all times. Obviously, masks are not worn while eating, therefore the distance is a limiting factor at nearly all establishments. However, takeout meals are appropriate where proper seating distances can be maintained.
Although things may not be changing quite as quickly as we would hope, I understand that any changes are an adjustment. As the masks are here to stay, let’s show off what we wear with pride. Send your mask selfies to paigec@htop.org and we will pull together a fashion show of sorts next week. Thank you for your hard work and commitment to keep everyone safe and protected.
Together, we got this,
Mike
