CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCES
The Home Builders Association of Tennessee is here to support our members and the residential construction industry during these unique challenges as our country tackles the novel Coronavirus. Helping members stay updated on developments as they occur. Be sure that you’re subscribed to our HBAT email updates. If you’re not already getting them, email info@hbat.org and ask to be added to our mail list.
The following resources are provided to keep you and your business informed and protected during the COVID-19 crisis.
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is a respiratory illness: symptoms include cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle aches, sore throat, or unexplained loss of taste or smell. COVID-19 can be severe could potentially lead to death. The infection is spread through droplets released into the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The droplets generally do not travel more than a few feet, and they fall to the ground (or onto surfaces) in a few seconds — this is why social and physical distancing is effective in preventing the spread. A medical diagnosis is confirmed with a laboratory test.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Apple have created an online Symptom Checker that you can use to determine if you should seek additional medical care. If you have symptoms call your doctor or local medical provider, so they can direct you to the closest location to be tested.
Flatting the Curve. Stopping the Spread of Infection.
Methods to stop the spread of infection include frequent, thorough hand washing, coughing into the bend of your elbow, disinfecting commonly touched surfaces, and staying home when you are sick. Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth if your hands are not clean.
CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. The CDC provides several methods on how to make homemade cloth face coverings out of a shirt or a bandana.
Construction is an Essential Business (including our suppliers & partners)
HBAT worked diligently to ensure that residential construction, our associates and suppliers were defined as an essential businesses in Tennessee. We are grateful that the Governor specifically listed “housing construction” as an essential infrastructure operation. Additionally, we joined forces with several other statewide construction groups to advocate that our tradesmen, suppliers and associates, who support the construction industry are also defined as essential. Read the letter requesting Construction be defined as Essential infrastructure.
Prevention Protocols for the Job Site
Even though construction and associated businesses have been determined to be essential business services in Governor Lee’s Executive Order 22, job sites must comply with the Public Health Safety Measures. HBAT suggests all essential businesses document their efforts to mitigate the spread of infection. Employers should inform their workers and contractors of new job site protocols to keep sick workers at home, provide hand sanitizer or hand washing facilities on site, promote the disinfection of commonly touched surfaces and maintain adequate social distancing to keep employees 6 feet apart.
Covid-19 Jobsite Flyer (dual language) should be posted on all jobsites to prevent the spread of infection
Travel Letter for Essential Industry Workers
Our tool includes a “travel letter” for essential employees. We strongly encourage you to download the letter. Copy the language onto your company’s letterhead and fill in the blanks with names and contact information. The letter also has a Spanish language translation that you can print on the reverse of the letter for any workers whose first language is Spanish. We hope you don’t need these letters, but we recommend you issue them to your essential employees, in case they are needed in the future.