5 coronavirus things: Nursing home keeps staff onsite 24/7 with triple pay

In this special edition of 5 Things, Food Management highlights five things you may have missed recently about developments regarding coronavirus and its impact on onsite dining.

Here’s your list for today:

n So far, the approach has worked, with Shady Oaks has seen no coronavirus cases among staff or residents.

The approach is expensive as the staff who agreed to the arrangement, which requires them to leave their families for an extended period and work 60- to 80-hour work weeks, has meant roughly tripling their salaries. They are housed in campers parked on the grounds and unoccupied rooms and management has segmented the facility so that if someone does get infected, transmission can be limited.

Read more: The Coronavirus Is Killing Too Many Nursing Home Residents

On May 18^th, Treasure Valley Classical Academy in Fruitland will become Idaho’s first public school to reopen since the coronavirus pandemic closed schools across the state seven weeks ago. The public charter school, which hosts 294 students between kindergarten and sixth grade, has nine school days left before summer break starts.

The school’s cafeteria will remain open for lunch with plans calling for more tables and allowing up to nine students per table, as opposed to the previous normal of 16. Meanwhile, hand sanitizer will be installed in every classroom and hallway, students are not required to wear masks and they can’t use the playground equipment until further notice.

Related:CentraState Health System in New Jersey gives recovered coronavirus patients box full of meals

Read more: First Idaho public school will reopen Monday. It has nine days until summer break

Business Insider sampled the reopening plans of its 25 Best Colleges in America listing from last year and found that most have yet to make definite plans. Most are either holding off making announcements or are saying they plan to have a combination of online and in-person classes depending on the coronavirus situation after summer ends.

Read more: What the top 25 colleges and universities in the US have said about their plans to reopen in fall 2020, from postponing the semester to offering more remote coursework

Both the School Nutrition Association (SNA) and the National Association of College & University Food Services (NACUFS) have announced the cancellation of their major summer industry conferences. SNA was to hold its Annual National Conference in Nashville July 12-14 while the NACUFS 2020 National Conference was to be held in Atlanta July 8-11.

Related:Stories from the front lines: Morrison Healthcare dining at Menorah Medical Center adjusts to coronavirus with a mini market and enhanced grab and go

Read more: National Conference 2020 is Going Virtual!; #ANC2020 Canceled

Chartwells Higher Education, a unit of Compass Group North America that operates dining at some 300 college campuses across the country, has announced their plans for reopening campus dining facilities in fall 2020. Its Path to Open program takes a tiered approach that can be adapted to individual schools depending on the level of social distancing and safety guidelines required either by the campus or state or local regulations. Each tier incorporates innovations that support safe dining practices while maintaining an engaging student dining experience.

The reopening plan includes stringent safety and sanitation measures that protect both guests and Chartwells associates. Personal PPE such as masks and gloves, increased handwashing, enhanced sanitation practices and social distancing are all incorporated throughout the tiered approach with more stringent guidelines for each measure depending on the tier and the requirements by each campus.

Read more: Chartwells Higher Education Releases Path to Open Providing Campuses with a Guide to a Safe Return to Campus

Bonus: Nutrislice college student survey finds concerns about safely accessing campus dining when schools reopen

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]