ARC COVID-19 Updates

UPDATE, 3/31/2020: Due to social distancing restrictions, all visitors and vendors must obtain authorization before entering ARC Residential Facilities.

• To discuss options or arrange entry to Reddy House, please call (541) 200-1650

• To discuss options or arrange entry to Mason Center, please call (541) 200-1572

UPDATE, 3/23/2020: Effective immediately, we are temporarily suspending admissions and assessments through our Walk-In Clinic, and all face-to-face interaction with clients in our outpatient programs. Our UA Lab will also be closed as of 3/24/2020.

This is based on the most recent state and local recommendations in response to social distancing requirements in the face of a potential COVID-19 outbreak in our area. This decision doesn’t come lightly, but it is the most responsible way to protect the long-term health of our staff and clients in the face of an extraordinary public health crisis.

If you are a current client, we will soon be conducting individual sessions via telehealth. TeleHealth is a counseling session with your primary counselor or Certified Recovery Mentor done by phone or by video.

If you are currently scheduled for an appointment, we will call you to let you know how to access your counselor virtually in the near future. If you would like to schedule an appointment, have further questions, or would like to ensure we have your most updated contact information, please call us at (541) 779-1282.

If you are a patient of our Addiction Medicine Clinic, your office visits and prescriptions with Dottie Oliveira, LNP, will continue in-person. However, OBOT groups are cancelled until further notice.

UPDATE, 3/20/2020: Due to the potential outbreak of the COVID-19 respiratory illness in our area, we are temporarily suspending job recruitment until further notice.

Please check www.AddictionsRecovery.org/Careers for future updates.

UPDATE II, 3/18/2020: Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, ARC is temporarily suspending it’s Domestic Abuse Awareness Program. Classes expected to resume Monday, April 6th.

UPDATE, 3/18/2020: Effective immediately, the following temporary changes will be seen across ARC Programs and Services:

• We are still enrolling new clients through our walk-in clinic, but service options may be temporarily limited or wait times longer than usual.

• If you have a fever, or a cough, or difficulty breathing, we will be unable to admit you until further notice.

We are taking additional steps by screening clients most at-risk for COVID-19 (including individuals 60 years or older, or those who have an underlying, chronic health condition) which may result in delayed admission.

• We are temporarily reducing the number of occupants in our Residential treatment facilities, which may impact wait times.

• If you are an active client in our outpatient treatment program, please come to group as scheduled. We are working to reduce the size of groups and will be in touch with you with more details soon. If you have immediate questions, please reach out to your primary counselor.

• For all clients seeking DUII services, you may be placed on a wait list due to current capacity issues.

Addictions Recovery Center (ARC) is closely monitoring both the COVID-19 respiratory illness and seasonal flu outbreak in Southern Oregon.

WHAT IS COVID-19?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the COVID-19 respiratory disease was caused by a new (novel) coronavirus that was first reported in China in January 2020 and has now been found in 60 countries, including in the United States. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses (including SARS, MERS, influenza, and even the common cold) that are common yet have been known to cause severe illness in people.

For more information about COVID-19, please visit the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

For more information about COVID-19 in Oregon, visit the Oregon Health Authority online: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/DISEASESAZ/Pages/emerging-respiratory-infections.aspx

HOW CAN YOU AND YOUR FAMILY BEST PROTECT YOURSELVES?

Right now, the best way to prevent getting or spreading an illness like COVID-19 is to avoid being exposed to this virus. Once exposed, it may take days or even weeks for symptoms to appear. These symptoms are not unlike the regular flu, and include fever, cough and shortness of breath. According to the CDC, the key to staying healthy is to take normal, preventative measures, such as:

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

• Engage in social distancing, maintaining 3-to-6 feet between yourself and others

• Limit time away from home to short, essential business.

• Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

o If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty

• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick

• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth

• Staying home when you are sick

• Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash

• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe

You might also see people wearing facemasks to keep from getting sick. It is important to know that facemasks should only be used by people who are already sick to prevent the spread of the virus to others, or healthcare workers working closely with those that are sick.

HOW SHOULD YOU PREPARE?

In addition to the above preventative measure you can take to keep from getting sick, there are other ways to prepare yourself and your family in the event of an outbreak of a respiratory illness like COVID-19. These include:

Preparing to be sick and out of commission for days or even weeks.
This includes things like stocking up on a couple weeks’ worth of food, water, medications, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent.

Take care of yourself psychologically, as well as physically.
It is natural to feel anxious with all of the media coverage about COVID-19. Feelings might include not being able to stop thinking about it, fears of catching it and difficulty sleeping. For some, anxiety about COVID-19 might affect their ability to function at work or go about their lives. If you are feeling this way, there are things you can do to deal with it. Here are some of the best ways to cope with this kind of anxiety:

• Take a break from the news.

• Talk to someone about how you are feeling.

• Try to be present in the moment.

• Remind yourself what you can control.

• Practice gratitude.

• Reach out for help.

And remember: if you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately. Telehealth services are available for a number of providers.