COVID-19

COVID-19 AND THE H.E.S.

In response to citywide backlogs on testing and in the interest of the safety of our community, the H.E.S. was proud to serve our community on Sunday, January 2nd by opening a  temporary testing site for our community, welcoming our neighbors, patrons, and their families.

 

We are grateful to our extended H.E.S. family as they that continue to support and be supported by our mission, and to those continuing to take the steps to keep our community safe via extra vaccination and boosters, regular testing, and following mask-wearing and safety protocols.

 

COVID-19 PROTOCOL 

  • H.E.S. COVID-19 Self-Certification must be completed on the day of your reservation prior to entrance into the building and each subsequent day members visit the H.E.S. facilities.
  • All individuals must complete and sign a one-time assumption of risk and liability waiver. This document is Included in online registration that must be completed prior to participation. Members MUST log into their H.E.S. account to review and sign the assumption of risk waiver and the updated financial guidelines.   
  • Individuals are required to wear face coverings at all times and adhere to activity-appropriate physical distancing.
  • Temperatures will be checked upon entry to the building. In the instance that an individual’s temperature is equal to or greater than 100.4 they will not be allowed to enter the building, as outlined by the CDC.
  • Upon entering and exiting the building all individuals are required to utilize hand sanitizer.
  • Participants will be required to bring their own equipment, caps, goggles, towels, etc. 
  • FACE COVERINGS  ARE REQUIRED WITHIN THE BUILDING, LOCKER ROOMS, AND ON THE POOL DECK  AT ALL TIMES. 

FOR YOUTH SPORTS AND FITNESS PROGRAMS ONLY

  • ONE parent/guardian may accompany participants – under the age of 17.
  • ALL parents/guardians must remain on the bleaches, in designated seating areas, for the duration of their child’s program. 
  • Seating areas have been designed to ensure and accommodate proper physical distancing. 
  • Interaction with children during activities is prohibited. 
  • Participants will be divided into assigned groups, in which they will remain for the duration of the class. 
  • Each group will have designated equipment unique to them.

FOR FITNESS MEMBERS ONLY

  • Reservations are required for all gym and fitness activities. 
  • Reservations are available for online booking, click here to reserve your time today. Members are also welcome to call 718.241.3000 for reservation assistance. 
  • Members are required to bring their own gym activity equipment, including but not limited to racquets, paddles, and basketballs.
  • Until further notice locker room access will not be available for individuals utilizing the gym facilities. 

FOR POOL USE

  • Participants are required to wear face coverings at all times while on deck. Face coverings may only be removed when entering the water.
  • Participants enrolled in the H.E.S. Learn to Swim program will not be permitted to have a visitor on the deck unless they are under the age of 6 (1,2,3,4, and 5 ONLY)
  • Designated areas will be marked on the bleachers to place personal items.
    Equipment will not be available for use. We strongly encourage you to bring any equipment you may require. B
  • The pool is divided into 3 sections for members to use:
    • Aquacise/Therapeutic 
    • Novice/Intermediate lap swimming
    • Intermediate/advance lap swimming
  • The sauna will remain closed until further notice.
SHOWER USE
  • Designated showers will be available for use.
  • All must shower prior to entering the pool.
  • A sign will be placed by each shower stating, “This shower has been cleaned and sanitized”  and “I am finished with the shower and it is ready for cleaning”.
  • When done using the shower simply flip the sign to ensure the H.E.S. maintenance team can appropriately clean and sanitized.
  • Showers will be cleaned and sanitized in between use.
  • There will be a five-minute time limit for shower use to allow for cleaning and disinfecting.
LOCKER ROOM USE
  • Members are required to wear face coverings at all times. 
  • To minimize locker room time, please arrive dressed for swimming.
  • Specific lockers are marked as available for use in each locker room, members must only use those marked for use to ensure physical distancing. 
  • Hand sanitizing stations and wipes are available and strongly encouraged for use throughout the locker room.
  • Locker rooms will be cleaned regularly throughout the day by H.E.S. maintenance staff.
  • Locker rooms are currently only available for those members utilizing the pool area. 
*PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL TIMES AND SCHEDULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. AS WE ARE ENTERING THE BEGINNING STAGES OF REOPENING, WE ARE FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES SET FORTH BY THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND  CDC.
 
 
**PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT RESERVATIONS AND SCHEDULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
 

THE H.E.S. AND THE NYC TEST AND TRACE CORPS

 

As a Test and Trace Corps Partner, the H.E.S. is proud to provide our community with a weekly list of testing sites and their respective hours in the Brooklyn area. 

 

Test sites are subject to change throughout the week and hours vary by location. You can find the most up-to-date schedule by visiting NYC Health+Hospitals COVID-19 Testing Sites.

 

 

What is the NYC Test & Trace Corps?

A public health initiative fighting COVID-19. Through FREE resources and action, the NYC Test & Trace Corps aims to contain the COVID-19 outbreak and protect our city. Officially launched on June 1, 2020, the NYC Test & Trace Corps is a group of doctors, public health professionals, and community advocates working to fight COVID-19 so that we all can get back to school and work, and help New York City reopen safely.

 

The work of the Corps is led by NYC Health + Hospitals in close collaboration with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and other city agencies.

 

What is the goal of the Test & Trace Corps?

The Corps aims to keep New Yorkers safe by reducing the spread of the virus and helping those with confirmedCOVID-19 disease separate safely from others and protect their loved ones. There are three key components of the work of the Corps:

 

Test
FREE, confidential, and safe COVID-19 testing is available to all New Yorkers at hundreds of testing sites across the City. The Corps aims to test 50,000 people per day by August 1.

 

Trace
Tracing’s goal is to identify people who may have been exposed to the disease through close contact and help them find the best place to safely separate from others. With the help of thousands of trained public
health professionals called Contact Tracers, this effort will provide support to New Yorkers who test positive for COVID-19.

 

Take Care
Contact Tracers will make sure that everyone who tests positive for COVID-19 and their close contacts have the resources needed to safely separate in a hotel, free of charge, or at home. Hotels will have24/7 monitoring by skilled nurses and clinicians, wireless internet access, all meals provided, access to mental health and wellness services, and free unlimited local phone calls to stay connected to loved ones. For New Yorkers that choose to safely separate at home, the Take Care team will help them with access to food and medication delivery.

 

Vaccinate 

The COVID-19 vaccine will be distributed in phases to groups of people at increased risk of COVID-19 exposure or severe COVID-19 illness. The phased distribution will take time, with vaccines not expected to be widely available to all New Yorkers until mid-2021.

Where are we now?

It has never been easier to get a COVID-19 vaccination in NYC. People 5 and older are eligible for the vaccine. Those who are fully vaccinated can more safely gather with friends and enjoy other benefits of vaccination, so get your shot today.

 

Many vaccination sites in the city no longer require appointments. See a list of sites where you can get a walk-up vaccination today.

 

To find a vaccination site near you, including those that take appointments, use the City’s Vaccine Finder (not accessible with Internet Explorer). Note, people who are 5 to 17 years old can only receive the Pfizer vaccine.

 

Certain individuals are now eligible for a booster shot of the Pfizer vaccine, if they have received two doses of Pfizer at least last six months ago. This shot is intended to help many people boost their immunity from the initial vaccination series, which may have decreased over time.
Go to nyc.gov/covidvaccine to learn more about COVID-19 vaccine booster shots. At this time, you will only be able to get a Pfizer booster shot if you received a second Pfizer dose at least six months ago. There are no exceptions. Additional guidance on boosters for other COVID-19 vaccine brands will be shared as soon as it is set by the federal government.

 

People who are moderately to severely immunocompromised (meaning they have a weakened immune system) are now eligible for a third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Learn more about third doses for people who are immunocompromised from the Department of Health & Mental Hygiene’s recommendations.

 

Vaccine Authorized for Children

 

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is now available for children ages 5 to 11. The vaccine dose for this age group is smaller than the dose given to people 12 and older.
Children can get vaccinated at their doctor’s office, pharmacies and vaccine sites across the city.

 

Booster Shots

 

Vaccine booster shots are now available for all fully vaccinated people 18 and older. These shots boost your immunity from an initial vaccination series.
We recommend a booster shot for any adult who received the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least six months ago, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago.
Your booster shot can be any of the three authorized or approved vaccines. If you are not sure whether to get a booster shot or which type of vaccine you should get for your booster, talk to your health care provider.

 

What about me?

 

Individuals 5+ are able to book vaccine appointments at many locations throughout the city using the NYC Vaccine Finder or by calling 1-877-VAX-4NYC. Check back here for additional updates or text COVID to 692-692 to receive real-time updates on vaccine distribution.
Anyone living in the five boroughs can register here to be contacted by the City to schedule an in-home vaccine
Read about our plan to vaccinate fully homebound New Yorkers.

 

 

Walk-up vaccination sites
Most city-run sites are offering walk-up vaccinations without an appointment, including for individuals 5 years and older. You can find the closest wall-up site to you by visiting NYC Vaccine Finder and clicking the “Walk-ups” toggle button.

 

 

NYC Mobile & Pop-Up Vaccine Sites
To better meet New Yorkers where they live, work, go to school, and play, NYC has deployed temporary, roaming vaccination sites across the City. There are two versions of these temporary sites: mobile and pop-up. All are fully equipped with in-take personnel and nurses to safely and conveniently administer the vaccine and observe patients. Appointments are not required, but you can book an appointment at many of these sites in advance online or by calling 877-VAX-4NYC.

TESTING

Who can get tested?
All New Yorkers can get FREE COVID-19 diagnostic testing and antibody testing. All New Yorkers should get the COVID-19 diagnostic test, even if they have symptoms.

 

Where can New Yorkers get tested?
There are hundreds of testing sites across the city, including at more than 30 NYC Health + Hospitals locations, at CityMD clinics, near NYCHA residences, at parks and recreational centers, and through mobile testing vans. To find a testing site near you, visit nyc.gov/covidtest, or call 311.

 

Should people get tested more than once?
Repeat testing should be considered if your previous test was negative and you:
  • now have symptoms of COVID-19 such as shortness of breath, cough, fever, or loss of taste or smell
  • have spent time in large crowds
  • had contact with someone you think may have COVID-19
  • live or work in a congregate setting such as a nursing home or shelter
  • are going to spend time with someone with a high-risk of serious illness (for example if you are going to visit a relative who is more than 65 years old or who has certain medical conditions that put them at risk like cancer)

Will I need to pay for my test?

No, many testing sites offer FREE COVID-19 tests. You do not need insurance to get a free COVID-19 test or an antibody test at any NYC Health + Hospitals location. If you have insurance, it is important to share your insurance
information so that the insurer can be billed. However, you will not need to pay any co-pay or co-insurance.
When and how will I receive my test results?
Your test results will be available within 3-5 days. While you are awaiting test results, it is important that you separate safely at home or in a hotel if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19.

 

Click to download the above flyer with Targeted Brooklyn COVID-19 Testing Sites

TRACING

What is tracing?

Tracing also called contact tracing, involves finding people who tested positive or were exposed to COVID-19 and asking them to safely separate from other people until they can no longer spread the virus.

 

What is the role of a Contact Tracer?

Contact Tracers call people who test positive or have been exposed to COVID-19. A Contact Tracer will:
  • Ask how you are feeling.
  • Ask if you need services and support to help you stay healthy and avoid spreading COVID-19.
  • Explain how long you need to stay inside and away from other people.
  • Ask questions to figure out how you may have been infected if you have tested positive.
  • Ask for names and contact information of people you had close contact with while you could have spread the virus to others if you have tested positive.
A Contact Tracer may also visit you in person to check on your wellbeing. They will show you their identification to prove they are a Contact Tracer.

 

How does the NYC Test & Trace Corps get people’s information?

If you were diagnosed with COVID-19, the NYC Test & Trace Corps received your information from the NYC Health Department. New York State law and the New York City Health Code require laboratories to send positive test results to the NYC Health Department. The NYC Health Department securely shared your information with the NYC
Test & Trace Corps in compliance with privacy laws that allow this type of information to be used to protect public health and stop the spread of disease.
If you were exposed to COVID-19, the NYC Test & Trace Corps received your information because someone with COVID-19 told a Contact Tracer that you were in close contact with them. A Contact Tracer cannot tell you who told them you were a close contact.

 

How can New Yorkers know if the person calling is a Contact Tracer with the NYC Test & Trace Corps?

The NYC Test & Trace Corps Contact Tracers are working to call everyone who tested positive for or was exposed to, the virus that causes COVID-19. Please answer the phone if you get a call from:
  • NYC Test+Trace
  • a phone number beginning with 212-540-XXXX or 212-242-XXXX.

 

A contact tracer will NEVER:
  • ask for your name – they will know it when they call you
  • ask for your Social Security number
  • ask for any private financial information
  • ask for credit card information
  • ask to take control of or download software to your phone, tablet, or computer
A Contact Tracer may also visit you at home, especially if they can’t reach you by phone. They will show you their identification to prove they are a Contact Tracer.

 

What is “close contact” with someone who tested positive for COVID-19?

Close contact is defined as:

  • Living with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
  • Kissing or having sex with someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
  • Providing care in the home of someone who tested positive for COVID-19.
  • Spending 10 minutes or more within six feet of someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

TAKING CARE

What type of assistance will New Yorkers receive when isolating at home?

All New Yorkers who are safely separating at home and monitoring their health status will get daily check-in calls or text messages from a Contact Tracer who may also conduct in-person visits to check on their wellbeing. The NYC Test & Trace Corps will also provide access to meals and medications.

 

How can New Yorkers access a free hotel room to safely isolate if they have tested positive for COVID-19?

You may be eligible for a free hotel stay of up to 14 days if you do not have a place to safely separate to protect your loved ones. To learn more, call 1-844-NYC-4NYC or 1-844-692-4692.

 

What services are available in a hotel?

New Yorker who choose to safely separate in a hotel will have access to free transportation and 24/7 support by skilled nurses and clinicians, free meals, access to mental health and wellness services, wireless internet access, cable television, air conditioning, and free unlimited local phone calls to stay connected to loved ones.

 

How can providers refer patients to hotels?

Any doctor, nurse, or physician assistant across the City can email CommCareCP@nychhc.org to refer a patient to a hotel room. If you don’t have a doctor, you can call 1-844-NYC-4NYC (1-844-692-4692), the City’s COVID hotline, to speak with someone who can help you make a reservation.
TRACK
TRACE

The H.E.S. has compiled a variety of NYC community resources for you and your family. These resources will be updated regularly as we become aware of new information and programs to share.

General Resources for New York City

1) Tenant Resource Portal helps residential renters access free resources from the City to help prevent evictions and keep tenants stably housed. The portal is available in English and Spanish and provides Google Translate in all other languages. It brings together resources from multiple city agencies, city-funded nonprofit legal service organizations, and Community Based Organizations, to better improve and streamline how tenants can learn about the options that may be available to them.

2) Stop the spread of misinformation about COVID19 and stand against stigma. If you have been harassed or discriminated against due to race, national origin, age, or disability, contact NYC Commission on Human Rights by calling 311. Call 911 if you are a victim of or witness a hate crime. For more info, go here.

3) While Black in NYC: Protections Against Discrimination for Black New Yorkers. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against or harassed because of their race, color, or national origin, call 212-416-0197. For more info, go here.

4) NYC’s Immigrant Affairs Department provides an extensive array of legal services, city services and asylum seekers help. All info can be accessed here.

5) It is illegal for stores to overcharge you. If you think a store excessively overcharged you by price gouging and posting one price and charging you more than the posted price, you can file a complaint by calling call 311 and say “Overcharge.” For more info, go here.

Jobs and Financial Services

1) Filing Taxes for Free. If you earned $80k or less with dependents or $56k or less without dependents, you can file for free with Met Council Helpline. Call  212-453-9532.

2) NYC government job opportunities can be found here.

Mental and Physical Healh Resources

1) All NYC-related information about COVID-19, including general vaccine and booster info, finding a testing site, free at-home COVID tests, and the latest data are all located here.

2) For NYC health information and efforts to keep New Yorkers healthy, go the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s website here.

3) In NYC, access to health care is a right. Enrolling in health insurance can be confusing and hard to navigate. A GetCoveredNYC Specialist from the NYC Public Engagement Unit help you navigate the process. Enroll by the 15th of the month for coverage starting on the 1st of the following month.

4) If you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed,  NYCWell can help. Call 1-888-NYC-WELL, Text “WELL” to 65173, or chat online here.

5)  If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction to alcohol, drugs, or gambling, New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) provides addiction treatment and recovery services. More info about OASAS is here.

o   To find a OASAS provider go here.

o   Call OASAS’s Hopeline to find help and resources 24/7 at (877) 846-7369 or text 467369. All calls are toll-free and confidential.

6) For insurance rights and questions, call the NYS Behavioral Health Ombudsman Office (Community Health Access to Addiction and Mental Healthcare Project – CHAMP) at (888) 614-5400 or eamil ombuds@oasas.ny.gov.

National and CDC Health Information

1) CDC- Tips on Managing and Coping with Stress

2) The National Institute of Mental Health Information Resource Center

3) U.S. Department of Health & Human Services – Mental Health Services

4) U.S. Department of Health & Human Services – Resources to Support Adolescent Health