COVID-19 tips

Shared or congregate housing includes apartments, condominiums, student or faculty housing, transitional housing, and domestic violence and abuse shelters.

Shared housing residents often gather closely for social, leisure, and recreational activities, shared dining, laundry facilities, stairwells, and elevators and may have challenges with social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Protect yourself:

• Social distance by staying at least six feet apart from others that you do not live with.

• Wear cloth face coverings in any shared spaces, not including your room.

• Seek out a buddy in the facility who will check on you and make sure your are getting basic necessities, including food and household essentials.

The facility

COVID-19 prevention supplies should be provided in common areas. This applies to soaps, alcohol-based hand sanitiser that contain at least 60 per cent alcohol, tissues, trash baskets, and, if possible, cloth face coverings that are washed or discarded after each use.

Non-essential volunteers and visitors in shared areas should be limited or avoided.

Staff should avoid entering residents’ rooms or living quarters unless it is necessary. Staff should use virtual communications and check ins (phone or video chat) as appropriate.

Shared kitchens, dining rooms, laundry rooms, bathrooms.

Access should be available, but the number of people should be restricted so that everyone can stay at least six feet apart from one another.

People who are sick, their roommates, and those who have higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 should eat or be fed in their room, if possible.

Do not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, or eating utensils. Non-disposable food service items used should be handled with gloves and washed with dish soap and hot water or in a dishwasher.

Guidelines for doing laundry such as washing instructions and handling of dirty laundry should be posted.

Sinks could be an infection source. People should avoid placing toothbrushes directly on counter surfaces. Totes can be used for personal items so they do not touch the bathroom countertop.