J-Sei Reopening Protocol
J-Sei In Community
We miss you! After more than a year of sheltering-in-place, J-Sei is in the process of creating phases and protocols for reopening J-Sei operations in Emeryville. The health and safety of the seniors, volunteers and staff are the top priority and J-Sei will follow the guidance of Alameda County, California, the Center for Disease Control and relevant authorities. This brief description provides an abbreviated outline on how J-Sei plans to ramp up in-person programs and more details will be shared as we move forward.
Governor Gavin Newsom has stated that California will be open on June 15, 2021, however, Alameda County has not entered the least restrictive yellow tier necessary for many activities, so we are awaiting more information before we can proceed. The public health guidelines are continually changing and we will continue to adjust accordingly.
Given the information we have at this moment, we will ask individuals who come into the J-Sei facility to show proof of full vaccination or a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours. [Note: Change made 8/6/21]
J-Sei Reopens in Phases
As COVID-19 infection rates decline and vaccination rates increase, J-Sei anticipates a three-phase opening that is highly dependent on public health data that dictate progression of our reopening phases.
What We Are Doing Now
- Home delivered meals and case management services continue its operations.
- Congregate meal diners receive home delivered meals.
- All wellness classes, education and cultural events are offered virtually.
- Friendly Visitor/Caller can continue by phone or computer. If both senior and volunteer are fully vaccinated, in-person indoor visits may resume with mask wearing and social distancing. If only one party has been fully vaccinated or no individuals vaccinated, in-person visits may resume outdoors with mask wearing and social distancing.
- Caregiver Registry inquiries are assisted by phone and email.
Phase 1.0
- Nutrition lunch delivery will expand to Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
- A limited number of the wellness and cultural education classes will be conducted in-person and/or as a hybrid class (in person & virtual). These first classes to return in-person, will be the smaller classes with attendance less than 10 or 25% room capacity; and classes that benefit from in-person instruction.
- Caregiver Registry staff will continue to primarily offer assistance by phone and email. However, in-person appointments can be scheduled.
Phase 2.0
- All wellness classes, education and cultural programs may return on site but with limits on the number of students based on capacity and anticipated in-person attendance. We will make every effort to provide in-person and virtual options. We hope to make attendance equitably available to all students. This may require that people alternate between in-person and virtual attendance so that all may have a chance to come in-person on a regular basis. In this phase, attendance may be limited to 50% of usual operations to allow for adequate social distancing.
- Class participants will have the opportunity to reserve To-Go lunches.
- Van Pool service will be available.
Phase 3.0
- Resume congregate dining at J-Sei. We will utilize the upstairs Atrium for maximum social distancing. Again, we want to assure that all interested diners have an opportunity to participate. A sign-up system will be coordinated and initially congregate dining may be limited to 1 day per week.
- Participation in in-person classes and on-site dining may be set up on a rotational basis in order to provide access and to observe capacity limits for social-distancing.
Preventative Measures When at J-Sei
- Daily health screenings will be required.
- Mask wearing will be required at all times in the J-Sei facility.
- Social distancing will be observed to maintain space of 6 feet or more to others.
- Doors and windows will be opened to the greatest extent possible to allow natural air circulation.
- Medical-grade air cleaners/purifiers will be used in the conference rooms to improve air quality and circulation.
- Hand-sanitizing stations have been installed at entrances and throughout the building.
- Contactless door opening have been installed on front door and bathrooms.
- Contactless soap dispensers have been installed in the restrooms
- Staff will follow new disinfecting and cleaning protocols.
Notification of Exposures
In the potential event that someone tests positive for COVID-19, J-Sei will determine which attendees, staff and volunteers may have been exposed (within six feet for 15 minutes within a 24-hour period). These individuals will be notified within a 24-hour period of their potential exposure. Testing options will be provided. Unvaccinated people may return 14-days after their exposure. Someone who tests positive for COVID-19 may return when at least 24 hours have passed since a fever of 100 degrees or higher without use of fever-reducing medications, COVID-19 symptoms have improved, and at least 10 days have passed since COVID-19 symptoms first appeared.
Return from Travel
An unvaccinated individual should get tested 3-5 days after travel. The individual should self-quarantine for 7 days, no matter what the test results were. If someone did not get tested upon travel return, a self-quarantine of 10 days is required.
Parking
Please be aware that the City of Emeryville has installed parking meters on streets close to J-Sei so more cars have been parking on our nearby streets. We encourage volunteers and seniors to car pool, take public transportation or a shared ride service.
My favorite Ozu title is “I Was Born But…” I was born but…WWII disrupted my life. I spent my early years in Poston Concentration Camp. Then a truck farm. Then came to SFSU where I studied filmmaking. I began my career as a filmmaker and cinematographer in 1968, when there were few camerawomen and fewer still Asian American camerawomen in the US. My first job was as cinematograher/editor on the KQED-TV program, “Newsroom.” Since 1972 I have freelanced as a cinematographer on many award-winning projects as well as producing my own. In 1991 I wrote and directed the highly acclaimed drama, Hot Summer Winds, based on two short stories by Hisaye Yamamoto, for American Playhouse. In 1999, my documentary/memoir, Rabbit in the Moon, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, was broadcast on POV, and won a National Emmy and numerous other awards. At Sundance I was awarded the Best Documentary Cinematography for Rabbit in the Moon and for Academy Award nominee Regret to Inform. In 2020, I directed and edited Vanishing Chinatown, The World of The May’s Photo Studio. In my sunset years, I continue to make documentaries like Then Becoming Now.