| Resources Regarding H1N1 Influenza Virus In addition to maintaining public safety during a pandemic, local governments are also expected to continue providing essential public services even though municipal employees may also be sick with or caring for family members with influenza.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), employers should expect absenteeism of 40% for two weeks during a pandemic's peak, with fewer employees missing work before and after that period.
The Department of HHS and CDC recommend the following preparations for employers and employees:
- Identify essential functions and personnel beforehand.
- Cross-train to ensure vital functions continues.
- Protect and ensure the ready availability of key electronic and hard copy documents.
- Delegate authority beforehand for key decisions, and establish an order of succession in case leaders are incapacitated.
- Consider alternate operating facilities and prepare personnel for an announced relocation of essential functions.
- Use telecommuting or other "social distancing" steps.
- Implement measures to protect personnel, which include limiting travel to affected areas, replacing face-to-face meetings with teleconferences, posting infection-control guidelines, cleaning frequently touched surfaces like keyboards daily, and, possibly, wearing face masks.
- Establish plans to resume normal operations quickly once a pandemic subsides.
Additionally, it should be the goal of each local municipality to get consistent, accurate information to the public quickly, including:
- Issuing recommendations for personal hygiene, including frequent hand washing, covering one's mouth when coughing or sneezing, not shaking hands or sharing drinking cups or silverware; and cleaning contact surfaces like phones and desktop surfaces.
- Urging children and adults with symptoms of illness to stay home from school or work.
- Urging citizens to avoid crowds or large public meetings.
- Providing specific information on government, school and/or business closings.
- Issuing travel advisories.
Finally, if a pandemic appears impending, the public should be advised to stockpile at least two weeks' supply of non-perishable food, water, and essential household items, so that they can avoid having to visit public places during the pandemic.
Some of the action steps above are taken from the Preparatory Checklist for State and Local Officials, produced by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Following are some additional resources that IMLRMA recommends you check periodically for updated information and recommendations:
National League of Cities Pandemic Influenza webpage that includes:
- Preparing for Pandemic Influenza
- Promoting and Protecting Healthy Communities: A City Officials Guide to Public Health
Center for Disease Control (CDC) website that includes:
- H1N1 Flu Resources for Businesses and Employers
- General Information (available in English and Spanish)
- CDC Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to the 2009-2010 Influenza Season
- Preparing for the Flu: A Communication Toolkit for Businesses and Employers
- Occupational Health Issues Associated with H1N1 Influenza Virus
- H1N1 Flu PowerPoint Presentation
- H1N1 Flu Audio and Video Resources
- Social Media Tools with links to widgets, mobile info, buttons, twitter/microblogs updates, etc.
- National Safety Council and CDC Webinar on H1N1 Flu
- Flyers and Posters
- Podcasts
- Public Service Announcements (PSAs) that may be used by public and private radio stations
- H1N1 influenza virus information on Twitter. If you are already registered with Twitter, go to the CDC's H1N1 Twitter updates.
Illinois Department of Public Health
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