https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/posters.html

DOH, Posters for staff and clients: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/communicable-diseases/disease-control/novel-coronavirus/posters.aspx

Sources for information: 

• Info from the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/summary.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery      
• https://cms.agr.wa.gov/WSDAKentico/Documents/Pubs/825-COVID-19PreventionFoodPantriesFactSheet.pdf
• Hand washing flyers: https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/posters.html
• USDA just published additional guidance https://www.fns.usda.gov/disaster/pandemic
• Dining Area Closures: Guidance for Food Establishments (PDF)
• Coronavirus Retail Food Establishments Supply Chain Issues & Conservation Strategies (PDF)
• https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/communicable-diseases/disease-control/novel-coronavirus/protection.aspx
• Sanitation and Hygiene Guidance– This more extensive document provides extensive guidance on Sanitation and Hygiene for Homeless Service Providers.  It contains many general tips in printable poster and checklist form that should be useful for food bank operations.

• Please find a few websites maintained by governmental agencies with additional information and resources about COVID-19 below:

•  Great guide for businesses and organizations - PlanningforaCoronavirusPandemic.pdf 
• Make a plan! 
• Determine who and what resources are required for your pantry to operate.  
• Encourage personal preparedness
• Anticipate Absenteeism - volunteers not feeling safe or are ill.
• Cross train staff and volunteers to carry out essential functions 
• Prepare for social distancing - increased physical distance between people to reduce spread of virus.  
• https://www.fmi.org/food-safety/coronavirus
• Frequently Asked Questions about the Coronavirus: 
• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html
• https://crosscut.com/2020/03/faq-coronavirus-washington

• Novel coronavirus fact sheet:
  

• ኖቭል ኮሮናቫይረስ
• Amharic

• 新型冠状病毒
  Chinese, Simplified
  
  
• 新型冠狀病毒
  Chinese, Traditional
  
  
• ីរុសកូរុ៉ូរប្រភេទថ្មី
  Khmer
  
  

• 신종 코로나바이러스
  Korean
  
  
• Новый штамм коронавируса
  Russian
  
  
• Caabuqa Xalfaafka Wadnaha
  Somali
  
  
• Nuevo coronavirus
  Spanish
  
  
• ไวรัสโคโรนาสายพันธุ์ใหม่
  Thai
  
  
• Vi-rút Corona Mới
  Vietnamese

Simple ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your workplace:

The low-cost measures below will help prevent the spread of infections in your workplace, such as colds, flu and stomach bugs, and protect your customers, volunteers and employees. Employers should start doing these things now, even if COVID-19 has not arrived in the communities where they operate. They can already reduce working days lost due to illness and stop or slow the spread of COVID-19 if it arrives at one of your workplaces.

Make sure your workplaces are clean and hygienic

• Surfaces (e.g. counters and tables) and objects (e.g. telephones, keyboards) need to be wiped with disinfectant regularly
• Why? Because contamination on surfaces touched by employees and customers is one of the main ways that COVID-19 spreads.

• Put sanitizing hand rub dispensers in prominent places around the workplace. Make sure these dispensers are regularly refilled
• Display posters promoting hand-washing – ask your local public health authority for these or look above to links to hand washing signage.

 Make sure that staff, volunteers and customers have access to places where they can wash their hands with soap and water

• Why? Because washing kills the virus on your hands and prevents the spread of COVID19 

Ensure that face masks and / or paper tissues are available at your workplaces, for those who develop a runny nose or cough at work, along with closed bins for hygienically disposing of them.

• Other tips: 

• • Wipe tables, counters, etc. with a bleach solution before and after programs & guests.

  • Not only dining (or distribution) tables but registration tables & coffee counter.

  • Wiping down handles, doors, doorknobs, handrails multiple times a day with a bleach solution or disinfectant wipes.

  • Wiping down pens and other items that can possibly provide a place for the virus to spread with a bleach solution or disinfectant wipes.

  • Since this virus is so new, we do not know yet how long it can stay alive on surfaces.

  • Washing our hands regularly:

  • Scrubbing with soap for 20 seconds or longer.

  • Here are two short videos reminding people best hand washing practices:

  • Short:https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/video/how-to-wash-your-hands

  • Longer:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d914EnpU4Fo

  • Keep hands away from face.

  • Finally, and most important, IF YOU ARE SICK, PLEASE STAY HOME!! We want you to get well ASAP and do not want you to share your germs.  This is not a time to "tough it out". While most cases are mild, if you pass it along to someone else whose system is not as strong, and that can prove fatal.

 Renew Your WFC Membership Today! 

To renew your membership click here. It's quick and easy. Membership is based on a sliding schedule of your food program's budget starting as low as $25/yr. 

Your membership comes with many benefits including:  

• Discounted fee to our annual conference and other trainings and events
• A discounted copy of valuable resources manuals, and discounted pricing on additional copies – Food Safety, Special Dietary Needs, Food Banking 101, and Best Practices. 
• Bi-monthly e-newsletters and quarterly newsletters
• Training opportunities for staff & volunteers plus technical assistance, answering your questions about programs and services, models and best practices, how to get started, and more.
• Food Bank Certification course for your staff/volunteers
• Access to a discounted membership with WA Nonprofits, for even more fabulous trainings that are offered both online and in person, all across the state
• Access to over 300 other WFC members – your colleagues in the fight against hunger!
• You have a vote in the election of your District representatives.
• Discounted agency insurance through Conover/Great American Insurance. 

 If your EFAP lead pays your membership dues, we will notify you when they pay on your behalf.  Happy New Year!