Isolation & Quarantine
Risk Communication & Public Information

Core Elements of Planning


CORE COMMUNICATION RESPONSIBILITIES
These core elements of risk communications should be included in the planning process but are not intended to be a step by step guide. Seattle-King County represents a major metropolitan area that is segmented into geographical Zones and planning is structured around these geographical segments for I & Q Response. As the lead agency, our communication responsibilities are defined by zone and include:

Provide Zones with the tools and training in the phases and steps of the emergency Risk Communications Plan.

During a public health emergency, we will:

• Verify the true magnitude of the situation as quickly as possible.
  
• Determine official and unofficial communications about the situation as based on verified information.


• Conduct notifications with the State Department of Health communications office, hospital public information officers, and other affected county, state, and local government communications officers.


• Determine timing and content of all local health-related guidance and messages.


• Simultaneously coordinate with CDC, State DOH, and other counties to develop common messages.


• Develop messages, fact sheets, press releases and other information and obtain appropriate approvals.


• Coordinate messages with the health care community, including hospitals and providers.


• Provide regular updates to media, public, healthcare professionals and public officials about the outbreak. Messages may include:


• Information about the infectious disease
• Who will be at greatest risk of disease and death
• Guidance on seeking care and care options
• Guidance on prevention behavior
• Guidance on recognizing and self-monitoring symptoms
• Measures to reduce risk that exposed or ill individuals transmit infection, including:


• Travel advisories/limit travel to affected areas
• Screening travelers from affected areas
• Limit large public gatherings and close schools
• Encourage telecommuting
• Limit availability of public transportation
• Quarantine of exposed persons
• Monitor the media as appropriate to rumors and misinformation
• Conduct outreach to homeless and vulnerable groups
• Establish a public health hotline and call center for public inquiries
• Establish a Joint Information Center (JIC)

In turn, we have asked the Zones for the following cooperation:

• Conduct a needs assessment for crisis and emergency risk communication.
• Develop a crisis/emergency risk communication plan, including determining audiences such as elected officials, partner agencies, internal staff, and mainstream and vulnerable populations in the community.
• Determine the functions needed to carry out the plan.
• Determine the resources needed to carry out the plan.
• Prepare and train the team to carry out the plan.
• Coordinate with Public Health before releasing information about the outbreak or isolation and quarantine procedures.
• Preserve the confidentiality of people in isolation and quarantine.

PARTNERING FOR CONSISTENT AND REGULAR MESSAGES
It is essential that all agencies work together "speak in one voice" to avoid delivering public messages that are inaccurate or contradictory. Both inaccurate information and delays in communication will likely result in the acceleration of rumors, loss of public confidence and increased anxiety, and possibly overwhelm first responders with "worried well" or even cause civil unrest. Establish a network of community partners communication contacts.

PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER AN EVENT This checklist can help guide your communication action steps during the planning process.


Before

1. Are you developing credibility and trust with the public and news media?


2. Are you developing a working relationship with key audience groups, including the media, volunteers, elected officials, first responders, public information officers and hospitals?


3. Have you recorded informational messages in multiple languages?


4. Do you have fact sheets on diseases and bioterrorism agents available in multiple languages?


5. Have you held orientation meetings with news media to brief them on their role in a public health emergency?

During

1. Are you communicating with the public using messages that are simple, consistent and credible? Are these messages written at a 6th grade (or lower) level of comprehension?


2. Do you have a telephone bank assembled to handle public inquiries?


3. Have you enhanced your website to include frequently updated information and instructions?


4. Are you committed to regular communication?

After

1. Are you communicating with the public using messages that are simple, consistent and credible? Are these messages written at a 6th grade (or lower) level of comprehension?


2. Do you have a telephone bank assembled to handle public inquiries?


3. Have you enhanced your website to include frequently updated information and instructions?


4. Are you committed to regular communication?