Update to Mask Use and Other Protocols

Updated 3/14/22

IN THE INTEREST OF HEALTH & SAFETY FOR ALL:

  • All Y associates are fully vaccinated or have an approved medical or religious accommodation. Regular covid testing is done for those few with accommodations.
  • Associates are required to follow the mandates of the counties and programs in which they work.
  • We strongly urge all Y members and those entering any of our Y centers and program sites who are eligible, to be vaccinated and boosted.

    PROGRAM-SPECIFIC MANDATES:
    Y Head Start: The federal Office of Head Start still requires mask use for children in Head Start sites. As such, we will continue to require mask use for all children in our Head Start programs until further notice. If federal requirements change, we will adjust accordingly.

If you have any questions, please contact your local Y center or email customerservice@ymaryland.org. 


Thank you for helping all of us be safe, and as always, let's be kind to one another in these challenging times! 


Sanitizing and Cleaning Procedures, and Disinfectant Agents Used

  • Our enhanced round the clock cleaning procedures help assure all surfaces and high touch points are kept clean and free of bacterial build-up. This includes continuous cleaning of high touch points and equipment every 45 minutes using PH7Q, a Neutral Disinfectant, which is phosphate‐free and designed to provide effective cleaning, deodorizing and disinfection to control cross contamination on treated surfaces. PH7Q kills bacteria and viruses including Human Coronavirus. We use this product for cleaning all surfaces throughout the day and we require our cleaning vendors to use it in our overnight contracted cleaning.
  • Disinfectant wipes are used throughout Y Family Centers and are effective to kill bacteria, germs and viruses. 
  • Following CDC and the state of Maryland guidelines for the disinfection of  surfaces in early childhood settings, the Y uses bleach in Stay & Play and Y Preschools to clean and disinfect toys and surfaces the children come in contact with.
  • Hand sanitizer containing 70% alcohol is available at all Y locations.
  • Children in Y programs are helped to wash their hands between activities. Y associates supervising children follow the same procedures. 
  • We have purchased Victory Fogger Electromagnetic Antimicrobial Sprayers. These are the sprayers which are currently being used by much of the airline industry to kill bacteria and viruses. The chemical used is called 256. As the chemical is discharged from the sprayer it is electromagnetically charged and adheres to surfaces and penetrates hard-to-get-to areas including cracks and crevices.  Both backpack and handheld models are part of the overnight cleaning procedure for all Y facilities.


Ventilation: Air Conditioning and Heating Units

  • We provide regular preventive maintenance to our units including routine filter changes. Our air filters come with a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values (MERV) rating of 8. MERV ratings define the effectiveness of the filter against airborne particles which are measured in Microns. Each Micron is one millionth of a meter in size. We use MERV 8 filters in all Y cooling and heating units, the highest filter recommended for our heating and cooling systems which also enable unobstructed air flow. MERV filters rated 8 catch particles that are 3 to10 microns and are highly effective against bacteria, mold spores and dust mites.


Swimming Pools

  • We use sodium hypochlorite liquid chlorine bleach in all Y in Central Maryland pools. Sodium hypochlorite is a CDC approved pool disinfectant which is applied in swimming pools for water disinfection and oxidation. Microorganisms cannot build up any resistance to it. Chlorine levels are checked every two hours and adjusted as need be.
     

Please Note: Y associates will respectfully insist that all health and safety practices are followed at all times. The Y will adjust policies based on local and state environmental indicators and metrics, as well as local jurisdiction, state mandates, the CDC, and other public health guidelines. Thank you.