As the entire world continues to closely monitor the serious spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and its by-the-minute changing effects it is having on our daily lives, CoSolutions has been regularly monitoring the situation and staying abreast of how this outbreak is affecting our employees, the communities we live and work in and our ongoing business operations. While we will continue to provide regular updates and communication to our employees via email, we have established this section of our Website devoted to the outbreak. Please check back regularly for updated news, information and guidance as we receive and provide it.

COSOLUTIONS UPDATES TO OUR EMPLOYEES

The following is a compilation of CoSolutions’ internal company communication to all employees regarding the COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) outbreak.  Please check back here regularly for updated communication and announcements from the Company to our staff.

Subj:      All Employees – Please Read – HQ Guidance On COVID
To:         All CoSolutions Employees

To All CoSolutions Employees – we want you to know that CoSolutions is closely monitoring the COVID-19 and taking measures to promote the health and safety of our employees.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) also announced the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) effective on April 1, 2020. FFCRA will help the United States combat and defeat COVID-19 by giving all American businesses with fewer than 500 employees funds to provide employees with paid leave in relation to COVID-19, either for the employee’s own health needs or to care for family members. For additional information please review the attached and the Fact Sheet for Employees.

The Department of Labor provides a general overview of the FFCRA here.

For questions on any of your CoSolutions benefits or the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, please contact HR at hr@cosolutions.com.

As a reminder, continue to reference the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  and World Health Organization (WHO) for expanded information regarding COVID-19, including prevention, signs and symptoms, and treatment.

Subj:      All Employees – Please Read – HQ Guidance On COVID
To:         All CoSolutions Employees

The end of last week and over the weekend brought news of sweeping closures of schools, events and public places in order to stem the spread of this fast-moving virus.  Government agencies are also starting to issue further guidance.  In lieu of the fact that the majority of our contracts are MISSION ESSENTIAL, all staff must be mindful that general guidance for a base may not convey down to CoSolutions contracts and employees.   Thus, please carefully read this email and await further official guidance from CoSolutions HQ/Program Managers BEFORE making any adjustments to your schedules.

FIELD (GOVERNMENT ON-SITE) EMPLOYEES:

Since the majority of our on-site contract support is deemed as Mission Essential and work is done in secure buildings or work environments, CoSolutions must wait for official guidance to be provided by the Contracting Officer (CO) for each of our contracts, BEFORE staff can alter work arrangements.  The CO is the ONLY Government official able to direct CoSolutions regarding performance of our contracts, even if a directive is provided at a higher level (i.e., the President, DoD Commander, etc.).

Be assured our executive and program teams are in communication with our on-site leaders as well as our Government customers.  Field employees will be notified by their supervisor as soon as we receive notice from our CO on behalf of our federal customers. Please note, this information will NOT be posted on our COVID-19 Updates webpage (see below), so please check with your supervisor for direction and guidance…Supervisors/PMs, please check with corporate BEFORE providing staff guidance to alter schedules/locations.

COMPANY WEBPAGE FOR COVID-19 UPDATES:

Over the weekend, we created a section on our corporate Website to provide our employees with news, information and updates on the outbreak.  We will continue to provide direct communication to all employees via email; however, this Webpage was created to supplement our email communication and provide an easy way for employees to get the latest information, read tips to stay safe and find additional resources.  This Webpage will be updated regularly to include our general company communication and guidance to our employees so please check here regularly for updates as we receive and provide it.

http://www.cosolutions.com/covid-19/ or you may access this Webpage from anywhere on the CoSolutions Website.

We continue to encourage all employees to remain vigilant regarding their own personal health condition and see a doctor or health provider at the first sign of virus symptoms.

As the world attempts to control the spread of the virus, do not put yourself, your family and those around you at risk by participating in any unnecessary or high-risk behavior.  Remember that each one of us can make a difference!

We will continue to keep everyone updated.  Stay safe!

Subj:      COVID-19 Update: Intra-Korea Travel Restriction Affecting ONLY Korea Personnel
To:          All CoSolutions Employees

This morning, CoSolutions received an updated notification from our prime affecting ONLY personnel residing in or traveling to Korea as follows:

INTERNAL TRAVEL RESTRICTION: Guro-Gu / Nowon / Guro station / Dorimcheon station / Sindorim station

Due to the rapid increase of 90 cases associated with a call center in the Guro-gu area of Seoul, CDR USFK/ CFC has directed USFK contractor personnel who meet the criteria below to take PTO / leave and do NOT report for work until Monday, 16 March.  Therefore, if you meet the any of the below criteria, DO NOT REPORT TO WORK EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.  The criteria are:

  • Live in the Guro-Gu area
  • Live in the Nowan area
  • Use the Guro station
  • Use the Dorimcheon station
  • Use the Sindorim station

Also, effective immediately, do NOT travel to the above listed areas (Guro-Gu / Nowon / Guro station / Dorimcheon station / Sindorim station).  If you have mission essential travel that requires you to travel to or through Guro-Gu / Nowon / Guro station / Dorimcheon station / Sindorim station, please contact your immediate supervisor (who will notify CoSolutions corporate staff) and stand by for further instructions – do NOT execute travel until specifically authorized.

If you are travelling for personal reasons:
Please refer to the CDC website for all travelers throughout your travel journey and please notify your Supervisor immediately if you are subject to mandatory quarantine based on your travel destination. Travelers may be subject to mandatory quarantine based on individual destination (city/state/installation) policies.

CoSolutions continues to remind all employees to maintain vigilance, self-assess your and your family’s health situation and continue to follow these basic practices to reduce virus transmission and limit exposure to it:

  • WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY; Avoid touching your face
  • Contact your doctor or health professional and STAY HOME at the first sign that you are not feeling well or if you exhibit symptoms of fever, cough, breathing difficulty
  • When sneezing/coughing, cover your mouth with a tissue (and discard in the trash) or sneeze/cough into your elbow
  • Practice social distancing and avoid contact or closeness to people who are sick with respiratory symptoms; Avoid potential COVID-19 hotspots
  • Clean frequently touched surfaces like your desktop, phone, keyboard

CoSolutions will be in communication again with any important new updates on the outbreak or as new directives are handed down that affect our staff.

Subj:      COVID-19 Travel Advisory
To:          All CoSolutions Employees

Yesterday, CoSolutions received notice from the Contracting Support Brigade, Korea that, effective immediately, any personnel who traveled or plans to travel to or through the areas of China, Hong Kong or Macau from February 1 2020 through April 15, 2020 will be prohibited from entering any and all government installations, Korea-wide.  Please note that this directive, at this time, applies to installations in Korea only.  CoSolutions is actively monitoring and staying abreast of this changing situation so that we can provide you with the most updated information and guidance as we receive it, including should this directive be handed down for access to installations in other countries.

If you have traveled through the above locales during the above established time periods, immediately notify your CoSolutions supervisor, who will then notify CoSolutions senior leadership for future instructions and action.

CoSolutions will be in communication again as this directive is updated and as new directives are handed down.

Subj:      CoSolutions Update – COVID-19 virus
To:          All CoSolutions Employees

To All CoSolutions Employees:

The world health community continues to monitor closely the emergence of the COVID-19 virus. At this time, no one knows how severe this outbreak will be. We are reaching out to our employee base to ensure you that we are actively monitoring and staying abreast of this changing situation so that we can provide you with most updated information and guidance as we receive it. First and foremost, we want to maintain a safe workplace.  We want to encourage and/or adopt practices that protect the health of all our employees while at the same time ensure the continuity of business operations.

Here are basic practices you should follow to reduce virus transmission and limit your exposure to it:

  • If you are not feeling well and especially if you are exhibiting symptoms of fever, cough and breathing difficulty, contact your doctor or a health professional immediately and stay home.
  • Wash your hands frequently with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds.
  • When sneezing, cover your mouth with a tissue (and discard tissue in the trash) or sneeze into your elbow.
  • Avoid contact with or closeness to people who are sick with respiratory symptoms.
  • Clean frequently touched surfaces like your desktop, phone, keyboard.
  • Avoid crowded areas, venues, events or transportation hubs that bring large numbers of people in close contact.

Employees are encouraged to use telephone and video conferencing instead of face-to-face meetings as much as possible during this outbreak.

It is critical that employees not report to work while they are experiencing respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills or fatigue. If you feel unwell and need to make alternate work arrangements, please consult with your supervisor to set expectations and make necessary arrangements (including approval of any time off).

If you plan to travel outside of the U.S. or if you are requested by a CoSolutions staff member or customer to travel outside of the U.S., please notify your CoSolutions supervisor for proper instructions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a website section devoted to the virus:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

For travel advisories, visit the State Department’s Travel.State.Gov for a website devoted to the outbreak:  https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/novel-coronavirus-hubei-province–china.html

We encourage all employees to take the necessary precautions to stay safe and help prevent the spread of this virus.

CoSolutions will continue to monitor this ongoing situation and provide all employees with important updates on the outbreak as we receive them.

Subj:      ADVISORY: Travel Notice regarding Coronavirus
To:          All CoSolutions Employees

CoSolutions is closely monitoring the public health situation related to the Novel Coronavirus strain that originated in China. The U.S Department of State has issued a China travel advisory in which it advises no direct travel to China at this time.  CoSolutions advises that all employees follow this travel advisory with strict adherence.

If you plan to travel outside of the U.S., or are requested by a CoSolutions staff member or customer to travel, please notify your CoSolutions immediate Supervisor for proper instructions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published suggestions on how to reduce your risk of contracting the Novel Coronavirus. Visit the CDC webpage for expanded information about the Novel Coronavirus, including prevention, signs and symptoms, and treatment.

We will continue to monitor and provide updates.

BUSINESS TRAVEL

If you plan to travel for business purposes outside of the U.S. or to any U.S. locations where COVID-19 has been confirmed or if you are requested to travel for business purposes by a CoSolutions staff member or customer, please notify your CoSolutions supervisor for proper instructions and guidance.

For travel advisories, visit the State Department’s Travel.State.Gov for a website devoted to the outbreak:  https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/novel-coronavirus-hubei-province–china.html

While traveling, you are strongly encouraged to stay abreast of the rapidly changing circumstances of and latest news about the outbreak.  Official information is updated regularly by the CDC, WHO and the State Department (for international travel) on their respective websites and may change up to and during your dates of travel.  Note that, in foreign countries, you are and will be subject to local laws, orders and policies of the country you are in.

PERSONAL TRAVEL

If you plan to travel for personal reasons outside of the U.S. or especially to any U.S. locations where COVID-19 has been confirmed, be advised that you could be subject to self- or mandatory quarantine upon arrival to your destination location and/or upon your return home.  Therefore, you should consider and plan for the possibility of such a contingency.

For travel advisories, visit the State Department’s Travel.State.Gov for a website devoted to the outbreak:  https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/ea/novel-coronavirus-hubei-province–china.html

While traveling, you are strongly encouraged to stay abreast of the rapidly changing circumstances of and latest news about the outbreak.  Official information is updated regularly by the CDC, WHO and the State Department (for international travel) on their respective websites and may change up to and during your dates of travel.  Note that, in foreign countries, you are and will be subject to local laws, orders and policies of the country you are in.

Have multiple means of communication available when traveling (cell phone, email, etc.) and, while you travel, ensure that you maintain regular contact with family members, friends and/or colleagues that are aware of your travel plans.

In the case of extreme emergencies while overseas, contact the local, country-specific U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance.

STEPS TO REDUCE VIRUS SPREAD AND LIMIT YOUR EXPOSURE

CoSolutions continues to remind all employees to maintain vigilance, self-assess your and your family’s health situation and continue to follow these basic practices to reduce virus transmission and limit exposure to it:

  • WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY; Avoid touching your face
  • Contact your doctor or health professional and STAY HOME at the first sign that you are not feeling well or if you exhibit symptoms of fever, cough, breathing difficulty
  • When sneezing/coughing, cover your mouth with a tissue (and discard in the trash) or sneeze/cough into your elbow
  • Practice social distancing and avoid contact or closeness to people who are sick with respiratory symptoms; Avoid traveling to potential COVID-19 hotspots or locations where COVID-19 has been confirmed
  • Clean frequently touched surfaces like your desktop, phone, keyboard
  • Avoid crowded areas, venues, events or transportation hubs that bring large numbers of people in close contact

WATCH FOR SYMPTOMS

Per the CDC, reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed COVID-19 cases.

The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure (based on what has been seen previously as the incubation period of MERS-CoV viruses):

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath

Should you exhibit any/all of these symptoms, stay home and contact your doctor or a health professional for further advice and guidance.

RESOURCES

For the latest news and information about COVID-19, international travel safety, and ways to limit your exposure to and reduce the spread of the virus, please visit the following links:

Track the Virus*

  • TrackCorona.live was created by undergrad students of University of Virginia, Virginia Tech and Stanford
  • Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Centers for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) created a COVID-19 Global Cases Heatmap

*CoSolutions does not attest to the validity of the data used in these websites nor the accuracy, fitness for use, or reliability of the data presented.

QUESTIONS?

Please feel free to email info@cosolutions.com and one of our staff members will promptly reply to your inquiry.