Covid-19 Safety Precautions
Please review all of the items on this page.
All PDFs can be viewed by double-clicking on them.


Free Covid-19 Testing available through Santa Cruz County COE.
Click on the link below for more information.
Stay Healthy: Get a Flu Shot, Wear a Mask, and Social Distance
Getting a flu shot this year is more important than ever. It can offer protection against this year’s flu strains and help keep you out of the hospital. The CDC recommends everyone age 6 months and older be vaccinated against the flu every year.
Covid or the Flu?
If you get sick, it could be tricky to know if you have the flu or COVID-19. They have similar symptoms: Fever, chills, congestion, cough, muscle aches, nausea, headache and fatigue. Although there is symptom overlap, there are two key hallmarks of COVID-19 infection:
-New loss of taste or smell, without nasal congestion.
-Shortness of breath.
Other signs to look out for: the severity of symptoms can be much worse with COVID-19 and critical illness can develop quickly. Another difference is time between exposure and when a person typically gets sick. With COVID-19, a person usually develops symptoms about five days after infection, but the range is two to 14 days after exposure. With the flu, you typically get sick one to four days after exposure. Also, how it makes you sick differs. When you get the flu, it often makes you feel very sick within a few hours after symptoms start. COVID-19 doesn’t necessarily knock you down the first few days and may not make you feel very sick until a few days after it starts.
In general, colds are much milder than either the flu or COVID-19. Cold symptoms tend to come on gradually over a few days and can include stuffy nose, sneezing, coughing and a scratchy throat. In most cases, a cold won’t cause a fever or extreme fatigue and doesn’t lead to serious health problems.
It’s important to remember that with every illness not everyone gets all the symptoms. Review our chart detailing the symptoms of these respiratory illnesses. You can also check the CDC website for a complete list of COVID-19, flu and cold symptoms.
Free PPE Available!
Are you in need of PPE supplies?! We've got 'em! Please contact the BalanceSCC office to schedule a time to come by and pick up supplies if you need them.
Covid-19 Testing Information
Free Covid-19 tests continue to be available through LHI. If you are in need of a test this is a great, free, and easy resource. You can find more information HERE.
Staying Safe During the Holidays
Please click HERE for the county's guidelines for staying safe from Covid-19 during the holidays.
Click on the "Get Started" button, below, to use this Coronavirus Self-Checker.



Covid-19 Reporting Procedure for Staff

Letter to Home Respite Staff about Covid-19

Per CDC Recommendations, we are strongly encourageing our employees to take the following actions:
Stay home if they have a temperature of 100.4 F or exhibit respiratory symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath.
Go home if they develop these symptoms while at the workplace.
Block all coughs and sneezes with a tissue, elbow, or shoulder not with their bare hands.
Wash hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Avoid shaking hands or engaging in any close contact with other employees or customers.
Please take the time to read these guides from the CDC.





Click HERE to view the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency Health Alerts Page.