COVID-19 Survey Reminder

A few weeks ago, we sent a survey to all Consumers and Designated Representatives (DRs) to get information about your concerns related to managing your Consumer Directed Personal Assistance (CDPA) during the coronavirus pandemic. Thank you to everyone who has completed the survey. If you have not returned your survey, please do so as soon as possible because we are closing the survey next week. You can complete the survey online using this link.

A Gift from CDPHP

CDChoices received many emails and phone calls from you, our Consumers and DRs, and your Personal Assistants (PAs) who were finding it difficult to obtain face coverings. To help, CDChoices reached to community partners to obtain do-it-yourself face covering kits, along with a supply of handmade cloth masks. 

Last week, we received a $5,000 donation from local health insurer CDPHP which will supply more than 500 masks to our Consumers. 

COVID-19 Testing Eligibility Expansion

New York has expanded the list of who is eligible to be tested for COVID-19. Previously, testing was only available for people who were symptomatic or had close contact with a person who had tested positive for COVID-19.

Now, health care workers and any essential employees who are directly interacting with the public while working are eligible for testing. They do not need to have symptoms of COVID-19. This means your PAs should be eligible to be tested. Anyone interested in being tested should call the New York State COVID-19 Hotline at 1-888-364-3065 or visit the NYSDOH website to be screened for eligibility. 

New List of COVID-19 Symptoms

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated the official list of symptoms of possible COVID-19 infection. In addition to the well-known symptoms of cough and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, symptoms now include:

• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell

Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact their health care provider. They can also call their local county health department or the NYS COVID-19 Hotline at 1-888-364-3065.

Family Fun Day Rescheduled: Saturday, August 29

Our annual Family Fun Day has been rescheduled because of the Coronavirus. We typically have our annual picnic on the first Saturday of June. For the safety of our staff and Consumers, we have scheduled our event for the last weekend of August. As we get closer to the new date, we will re-evaluate to determine if we can safely move forward with our plans.