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Transcript of 017. Faith Communities and Pandemic Communities
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Faith Communities and Pandemic Flu:Guidance or aith communities and localinuenza pandemic committees
www.communities.gov.ukcommunity, opportunity, prosperity
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May 2009Department for Communities and Local Government
Faith Communities and Pandemic Flu:Guidance or aith communities and localinuenza pandemic committees
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Communities and Local Government
Eland HouseBressenden PlaceLondon
SW1E 5DUTelephone: 020 7944 4400Website: www.communities.gov.uk
Crown Copyright, 2009
Copyright in the typographical arrangement rests with the Crown.
This publication, excluding logos, may be reproduced ree o charge in any ormat or medium or research,private study or or internal circulation within an organisation. This is subject to it being reproduced accuratelyand not used in a misleading context. The material must be acknowledged as Crown copyright and the titleo the publication specied.
Any other use o the contents o this publication would require a copyright licence. Please apply or a Click-Use Licenceor core material at www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/system/online/pLogin.asp, or by writing to the Ofce o Public SectorInormation, Inormation Policy Team, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU
e-mail: [email protected]
I you require this publication in an alternative ormat please email [email protected]
Communities and Local Government Publications
PO Box 236WetherbyWest Yorkshire
LS23 7NBTel: 0300 123 1124Fax: 0300 123 1125
Email: [email protected] via the Communities and Local Government website: www.communities.gov.uk
75%
May 2009
Product Code: 09FRD05909
ISBN: 978-1-4098-1405-4
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Contents | 3
Contents
Executive Summary 5
Section 1 Introduction 7
1.1 Aim 7
1.2 Audience 8
1.3 Using this guidance 8
1.4 Further inormation 8
Section 2 Pandemic infuenza background 92.1 What is pandemic infuenza 9
2.2 What will a pandemic infuenza look like? 9
2.3 Signs and symptoms o fu 10
2.4 Incubation and inection periods 11
2.5 What should you do i you have symptoms? 11
2.6 How Is a pandemic caught and spread to others? 12
2.7 What should individuals do to protect themselves and
others rom pandemic fu? 12
Section 3 How will pandemic infuenza plans aect aith communities? 13
3.1 Mass gatherings 13
3.2 Distribution o anti-virals Flu riends 14
3.3 Repatriation and overseas travel 15
3.4 Schools and child care settings 15
3.5 Management o excess deaths 15
Section 4 Planning guidance or aith communities 18
4.1 Step 1 Protecting your aith community 19
4.2 Step 2 Planning or the continuity o core activities 22
4.3 Step 3 Planning to be able to cope with an increaseddemand or some services 23
4.4 Step 4 Planning to be able to acilitate the response tothe pandemic and potential new demands 24
ANNEX A Checklist or aith communities 24
ANNEX B Key Documents 27
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Executive Summary | 5
Executive Summary
The threat o a potential world-wide inuenza pandemic presents a real and dauntingchallenge to the health, social and economic well being o any country. Planning and
preparing now will help to lessen its impact and aid in the UKs recovery rom an inuenza
pandemic. The UK Government and key partners across all o society are thereore working
together now to take every practical and proportional step to ensure that the UK prepares
well or the pandemic this guidance document orms part o that eort.
Faith communities are an integral group o UK society, with the majority o the UKs
population identiying themselves as having some kind o religious aith or link to religious
tradition and thousands actively participating in aith communities across the country.There are in excess o 11,000 aith leaders in the UK who can coordinate communities and
who have experience, expertise and assets which are a valuable resource to the public. In
the event o an inuenza pandemic, the role o aith communities is likely to be o particular
importance.
This guidance brings together the UKs planning assumptions and the Governments
response strategy or the various aspects o an inuenza pandemic that will be particularly
relevant to aith communities. It also draws on existing good practice across aith
communities in the UK and abroad.
The guidance will help those at dierent levels in all aith communities in their
consideration o the direct impacts that a pandemic will have on their communities and the
ways in which they can protect themselves and others. It will, at the same time, help in the
wider response to the pandemic and minimise its impacts or all o society.
The guidance also recognises that planning or a pandemic, and responding to one
while it is happening, involves many difcult decisions which may have the potential to
create tension between the needs o individuals/communities and the needs o the wider
population. In some cases, this may mean that difcult decisions may have to be made orthe greater good o the UK population as the benefts to be gained rom these actions has
been judged to outweigh its potential impacts.
In all its pandemic inuenza planning, the UK has robustly applied the ethical ramework1
already set out by the Government or responding to this threat. This means:
Everyone matters
Everyone matters equally but this does not mean that everyone is treated
the same
The interests o each person are the concern o all o us, and o society
1 http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_080751
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6 | Faith Communities and Pandemic Flu: Guidance or aith communities and local inuenza pandemic committees
The harm that might be suered by every person matters, and so minimising the
harm that a pandemic might cause is a central concern.
Working together to plan or, and respond to, a pandemic?
Helping one another
Taking responsibility or our own behaviour, or example by not exposing others
to risk
The UK Government aims to ensure that its approach to inuenza pandemic planning
and response is open and transparent. Those issues considered contentious and the
proposed government plans to deal with them are discussed openly within this document
to stimulate inormed planning and discussions at all levels o society including within aith
communities.
Although pandemic inuenza remains one o the most severe natural challenges likely to
aect the UK, by working together and preparing proportionately, we can all do a great
deal to lesson its potential impact on our health, social and economic wellbeing.
This document was drated by CLG and the Cabinet Ofce in consultation with ofcials
rom the Health Protection Agency, Department o Health and Home Ofce.
Thanks are due to the Faith Communities Consultative Council u planning working group
under the Chair o Monsignor John Devine o the Catholic Bishops Conerence. Specifcthanks are also due to Jim McManus, Assistant Director at the Barking and Dagenham
Primary Care trust, particularly or his earlier work on drating key sections o this guidance.
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Section 1 Introduction | 7
Section 1
Introduction
1.1 Aim
This guidance aims to encourage and support aith communities in planning or a human
inuenza pandemic. It provides a brie background on pandemic u, its potential impact
on the UK, the proposed government response and the implications or aith communities.
It also explains the role aith communities could play in helping to acilitate the response toa pandemic within their communities.
This document is intended to be read in conjunction with the National Framework or
Responding to an Infuenza Pandemic2, and Key Communities, Key Resources: engaging
the capacity and capabilities o aith communities in civil resilience, which was published by
CLG in July 20083. The National Framework describes, in detail, the Governments strategic
approach to and preparations or an inuenza pandemic, and sets out the UK planning
assumptions or the dierent phases o a pandemic. The Key Communities document is
intended to help emergency planners and aith communities prepare or and deal withlarge scale incidents such as an inuenza pandemic. It deals with principles and provides
tools and a roadmap or good practice.
This document does not attempt to duplicate the inormation in the National Framework;
however where necessary inormation has been summarised and included. Cross
reerences to the relevant sections o the National Framework have been included
where appropriate.
Emergency planners may also wish to acquaint themselves with the 2005 Home Ofce/
Cabinet Ofce guidance The Needs o Faith Communities in Major Emergencies4.
2 http://www.cabinetofce.gov.uk/ukresilience/pandemicu/guidance/national.aspx
3 http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/civilresilience
4 http://security.homeofce.gov.uk/news-publications/publication-search/guidance-disasters/aith-communities
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1.2 Audience
This guidance is aimed primarily at all aith communities and community leaders in
England. It may also be o some interest to emergency planners in central government,
local authorities and the uniormed services.
Faith leaders and communities in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales should fnd it useul
to reer to this guidance alongside any other that may have been published by their own
devolved administrations.
1.3 Using this guidance
This document should be read in advance o a pandemic inuenza to ensure that robust
preparations/plans are in place or aith communities.
This guidance is comprised o our sections:
Section 1 introductory remarks.
Section 2 generic pandemic inuenza background inormation.
Section 3 details o the proposed government response to a pandemic which maybe o particular interest to some aith communities.
Section 4 inormation to acilitate planning and response within aith communities.
This section is subdivided into guidance on how to protect your community, business
continuity planning to maintain and expand existing unctions, and inormation on
new unctions which aith communities may consider to acilitate the response.
In order to help you develop and implement your plans or a possible u pandemic, we
recommend that everyone who is responsible or aith communities planning should read
this guidance and the checklist provided at Annex A. You should also take note o Annex B,which provides links to a wide range o other sources o inormation and guidance.
1.4 Further inormation
Annex B provides a number o links to additional inormation. Any urther questions or
eedback on this document should be directed to the Cohesion and Faiths Division in the
Department or Communities and Local Government i they relate specifcally to aith
issues ([email protected]), and to the Civil Contingencies Secretariat at the
Cabinet Ofce i they relate to emergency planning (CCSAssessmentsTeam@cabinet-
ofce.x.gsi.gov.ukg).
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Section 2 Pandemic inuenza background | 9
Section 2
Pandemic inuenza background
2.1 What is pandemic inuenza?
Flu is a amiliar inection in the UK, especially during the winter months. The illness, caused
by the u virus, can be mild or severe and, at times, can lead to death.
Some groups o people are more susceptible to u than others, in particular: older people;young children and those with certain medical conditions.
Pandemic u is dierent rom ordinary u because it occurs when a new u virus emerges
into the human population and spreads rom person to person worldwide all countries
will be aected. As it is a new virus, the entire population will be susceptible because no
one will have any immunity to it. Thereore, healthy adults as well as older people, young
children and people with existing medical conditions will be aected. The lack o immunity
in the UK population will mean that the virus has the potential to spread very quickly
between people. This will result in many more people becoming severely ill and many
more deaths.
The circumstances exist now or a new u virus to emerge and spread worldwide.
Although a pandemic has not yet started, experts warn that it could soon.
2.2 What will a pandemic inuenza look like?
This section should be read alongside Section 3 o the National Framework.
One o the main challenges aced by those planning against an inuenza pandemic
is that the nature and impact o the pandemic virus cannot be known until it emerges
and thereore response arrangements must be exible enough to deal with a range o
possibilities and be capable o adjustment as they are implemented.
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Until then, planning should be based on the assumptions set out in A National Framework
or Responding to an Infuenza Pandemic and as summarised below. These assumptions
have been derived rom a combination o current virological and clinical knowledge, expert
analysis, extrapolations rom previous pandemics and mathematical modelling:
Duration and timing A uture inuenza pandemic could occur at any time.
It may come in two or more waves several months apart. Each wave may last
two to three months across the UK as a whole. I a pandemic u strain emerges
overseas, it will almost certainly reach the UK; while this may take around a
month, planners cannot rely upon having that much orewarning. Once the
pandemic arrives, it is likely to spread throughout the country in a matter o
weeks.
Depending upon the virulence o the inuenza virus, the susceptibility o the
population and the eectiveness o countermeasures, up to 50 per cent o the
population could become ill and up to 750,000 additional deaths (that is deaths
that would not have happened over the same period o time had a pandemic not
taken place) could occur by the end o a pandemic in the UK.
Increased sta absenteeism levels (resulting rom illness, caring responsibilities,
school closures, public transport closures, death etc) throughout the pandemic
period. As a rough working guide, organisations employing large numbers o
people, with exibility o sta redeployment, should ensure that their plans are
capable o handling sta absence rates o up to 15-20 per cent (in addition tousual absenteeism levels). Small organisations, or larger organisations with small
critical teams, should plan or level o absence rising to 30-35 per cent at peak,
perhaps higher or very small organisations with only a handul o employees.
In the absence o early or eective interventions, society may also ace much
wider social and economic disruption, lower production levels, shortages and
distribution difculties.
2.3 Signs and symptoms o uIt is likely that the signs and symptoms o pandemic u will be the same as or ordinary u
but may be more severe and cause more serious complications.
The most signifcant symptoms are the sudden onset o:
Fever
Cough or shortness o breath.
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Section 2 Pandemic inuenza background | 11
Other symptoms may include:
Headache
Tiredness
Chills
Aching muscles
Sore throat
Runny nose
Sneezing
Loss o appetite.
2.4 Incubation and inection periods
The incubation period (time between contact with the virus and the onset o symptoms)
ranges rom one to our days, or most people it will be two to three days.
People are most inectious to others soon ater they develop symptoms though they can
continue to shed the virus, or example in coughs and sneezes, typically or up to fve days
(seven days in children). People become less inectious as their symptoms subside and once
symptoms are gone, they are considered no longer inectious to others.
2.5 What should you do i you have symptoms?
I you develop symptoms:
Stay at home
For advice and an initial assessment o symptoms, contact the National Flu Line
service in the frst instance
Phone your employer or occupational health department
Do not go to work until you are ully recovered.
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2.6 How is pandemic u caught and spread to others?
Flu, including pandemic u, is spread rom person to person by close contact. Some
examples o how it can be spread include:
Coughing and/or sneezing by an inected person within a short distance (usually
one metre or less) o someone
Touching or shaking the hand o an inected person and then touching your
mouth, eyes or nose without frst washing your hands
Touching suraces or objects (e.g. door handles) that have become contaminated
with the u virus and then touching your mouth, eyes or nose without frst
washing your hands.
2.7 What should individuals do to protect themselves andothers rom pandemic u?
Use a tissue to cover your nose and mouth when coughing and/or sneezing.
Dispose o the tissue promptly and then wash your hands. Tissues should be
disposed o in domestic waste and do not require any special treatment. Do
not use handkerchies or reuse tissues. This practice contaminates pockets or
handbags which will recontaminate hands every time they go into those pocketsor handbags.
Clean hands requently, especially ater coughing, sneezing and using tissues.
Soap and water is an eective means o cleaning hands, however handrubs
(microbicidal handrubs, particularly alcohol-based) can be used as an alternative.
Minimise touching your mouth, eyes and/or nose, unless you have recently
cleaned your hands.
Use normal household detergent and water to clean suraces requently touched
by hands.
Clean your hands as soon as you arrive home.
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Section 3 How will pandemic inuenza plans aect aith communities? | 13
Section 3
How will pandemic inuenza plansaect aith communities?
The UK government has been making preparations or a pandemic or many years these
preparations are based on limiting the health, social and economic impacts o a pandemic
and acilitating recovery.
All government planning, including those specifc aspects outlined below have beensubject to widespread consultation and the easibility, merits and ethical impacts o the
specifc response options have been considered ully. The undamental principles o equal
respect and concern have been applied to all policies relating to inuenza pandemic.
The proposed UK response actions which may directly impact on some aiths communities
are described below. Full details o the response arrangements being planned by the UK are
available at: www.cabinetofce.gov.uk/ukresilience/pandemicu.aspx
3.1 Mass gatherings
Public gatherings, particularly those involving worship, are a undamental part o every day
lie or aith communities and can help maintain morale during a pandemic. Whilst close
contact with others in a confned space can accelerate the inuenza virus, there is little
direct evidence o the benefts o cancelling such gatherings among healthy people.
For planning purposes, the presumption should be that the Government is unlikely to
recommend a blanket ban on religious or other types o gatherings. However, inormed
judgements by community aith leaders and their respective organisations in conjunctionwith the regulatory authorities and local planners will help in any decision about whether
to suspend gatherings.
However, as in any situation where people come into close contact, good hygiene
precautions should be adhered to, including robust policies that individuals who are ill or
have inuenza-like symptoms remain at home. The ull range on inection control and
hygiene measures are described in section 4.1.
Although evidence does not support a blanket ban on public gatherings, it should also
be recognised that individuals may decide not to attend them. Parents, or example, maychoose not to allow children, who are particularly vulnerable, to attend religious classes.
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Transport difculties, public order, crowd saety or other similar considerations may also
aect decisions on staging such events. Organisers and/or governing bodies and licensing
authorities (where relevant) might thereore decide to cancel events to minimise difculties
or avoid economic or other risks. Decisions can only be taken in the light o inormation andthe circumstances at the time.
With this in mind aith communities may wish to make plans to provide additional support
to their members outside o the routine gatherings.
3.2 Distribution o antivirals/Flu Line
The UK government is stockpiling specifc clinical countermeasures that could have a
signifcant benefcial impact in responding to a pandemic (both by reducing the spread o
the virus and reducing deaths). This includes a stockpile o antiviral medicines.
Antiviral medicines orm the main clinical intervention during the initial response to a
pandemic. For maximum beneft, antivirals need to be taken as soon as possible, preerably
within 12 hours, but at least within 48 hours o the onset o symptoms. Using the health
service to authorise antiviral medicines to all symptomatic members o the public would be
unsustainable during a pandemic and, as a result, a Flu Line service is being developed to
distribute antiviral medicines to symptomatic members o the public.
On contacting the Flu Line, members o the public will gain an initial assessment o their
symptoms (using a clinically-based algorithm), advice, triage, and i appropriate (e.g. they
are symptomatic and able to take the antivirals within 48 hours o onset o symptoms)
authorisation o antiviral medicines.
On having their identity verifed and being given a unique reerence number, they will then
be asked to send a Flu Friend (a riend, amily member, or carer) to a local collection point
(e.g. community pharmacy) to collect their antiviral medicine or them.
Faith community representatives will want to consider the impacts o this policy on their
communities. They will want to consider:
How to help with communicating messages to individuals to inorm them o the
processes or accessing these drugs; and
Forming a u riend network within their communities to collect antivirals or
vulnerable people.
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Section 3 How will pandemic inuenza plans aect aith communities? | 15
3.3 Repatriation and overseas travel
The Foreign & Commonwealth Ofce (FCO) will not be assisting with the evacuation
o, or supplying antiviral medicines to, British Nationals (BNs) who are overseas during a
pandemic.
The FCO will issue travel advice during an inuenza pandemic (both beore it hits the
UK and during), which will be proportionate to the risks and in line with World Health
Organisation (WHO) recommendations. This is likely to recommend against all non-
essential travel to aected and neighbouring countries, and advising British Nationals in
those countries wishing to leave to do so without delay.
Faith communities are advised to consult the FCO website or the latest travel inormationand to obtain advice rom the Health Protection Agency about communities going on
pilgrimage (e.g. Hajj) during or beore an inuenza pandemic. Depending on the severity o
the pandemic, it may be sensible to suspend such travel.
3.4 Schools and child care settings
It is possible that the Government will, through local authorities, advise schools (including
aith based schools) and early years and childcare settings to close to children during a
pandemic. This policy is based on mathematical modelling derived rom seasonal uepidemics that show that school closures could have an impact on the numbers o children
aected at the peak o an inuenza pandemic and potentially on the duration a pandemic.
Faith community representatives will want to consider how they would communicate
decisions about the closure o schools and weekend classes to their aith community.
3.5 Management o excess deaths
During an emergency, ensuring that arrangements or those who have died are respectulo the belies and sensitivities o the deceased and bereaved and pragmatic in civil resilience
terms remains a priority or emergency planners and aith communities alike.
In 2005 the Home Ofce and Cabinet Ofce produced The needs o Faith Communities
in Major Emergencies: Some Guidelines. More recently CLG also published the Key
Communities, Key Resources document reerred to earlier in this guidance. These
documents set out the specifc needs o individual aith communities in some detail, and
emphasised the need or emergency planners to consider the ull impact o a crisis on the
management o the dead and the care o the bereaved.
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With this in mind the Home Ofce has published guidance specifcally relating to an
inuenza pandemic or those involved in the deaths management process5. This document
highlights the predicted impact o the additional deaths and provides a ramework by
which planners should manage this process. In summary the level o additional atalitiesresulting rom an inuenza pandemic (up to 750,000 over a 15 week period) will place
considerable pressure on already stretched local systems and are likely to overwhelm usual
systems or managing the deaths process.
Thereore a number o processes have been proposed to increase capacity. Many o these
involve minor changes to current practises such as working longer hours, which aim
to maintain services as near to normal as possible or as long as practicable. However,
in a worst case scenario these contingency arrangements are unlikely to be enough to
cope with the demand and other more signifcant changes to working practices will beneeded to sustain the deaths management process. In such circumstances it may become
necessary or uneral directors to restrict the choices available to the bereaved.
It is clear that certain public services will be under considerable pressure to deal with those
that have died. As a result o this, any specifc needs aith communities may have in this
area are highly unlikely to be met ully by the usual death management process. During
an inuenza pandemic, it will not be possible to prioritise the needs o aith communities.
Doing so would be in contradiction to the overarching ethical ramework, may create
signifcant social tension and in a reasonable worst case scenario would not be possible.
Faith communities, in particular, will thereore play a key role in uneral services and in the
burial/cremation process. They should be engaged by those leading local planning and may
also wish to develop their own business continuity plans. While it is important to ensure
that the proper respect and treatment o those who have died is provided according to
individual aith requirements, during a pandemic there will be some specifc challenges:
At the peak o a severe pandemic, it may not be possible to bury or cremate those
who have died as quickly as a particular aith may decree because o the large
numbers o people who are dying. You need to ensure that you and memberso your aith community understand this and do not place additional strain on
essential services.
You may wish to consider whether your community will pre-arrange memorial
services at a later date as an alternative to large uneral services, particularly i
aith leaders are themselves aected by the virus.
You may need to consider what rituals or other religious or spiritual care you can
give to members o your community in situations where there must be a delay in
disposing o a body.
5 www.cabinetofce.gov.uk/media/131642/u_managing_deaths_ramework.pd
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Section 3 How will pandemic inuenza plans aect aith communities? | 17
You will need to liaise closely with uneral directors about what is and is not
permissible during the uneral and what is permissible about how bodies will be
disposed o. In most cases the usual methods in your aith will be acceptable,
unless there are particular circumstances. The uneral director should explainthese to you.
Most ritual washings should be permissible but a uneral director will need to be
consulted. Those doing the washing will need to wear gloves and aprons. They
will need to be supervised by an undertaker and will need to wash their hands
thoroughly with soap and water aterwards.
As part o their business continuity plans, aith community representatives will also want
to consider the impacts o potential changes to the deaths management process on their
communities. They will want to consider:
their duty o care to sta
what they might do to increase their capacity to provide religious uneral services
how these will ft in with the Dierent Ways o Working being implemented by
the other organisations in the process
whether they can sustain these taking place at the cemetery or crematorium
chapel, chosen place o worship, home, or other setting; and
whether they can sustain provision to support the bereaved, where required, in
light o their other community responsibilities (e.g. supporting local social care
services) and, i so, what alternative sources o support might be ound.
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Section 4
Planning guidance or aith communities
Faith communities oer a wide range o services to the public and as such are rightly
regarded as a crucial resource to engage with in civil resilience. There are several good
reasons or this including a wide network across the UK, a ready network o volunteers and
experience with dealing with people at difcult times.
Given the ar reaching consequences o a pandemic it is essential that aith communities
are ully engaged in multi agency pandemic inuenza planning in order to ensure that
these resources are protected and, i possible, utilised during a response to ensure that the
UK public are oered as much support as is reasonably possible.
With this in mind a staged planning process is recommended (to be carried out with
partners within your local resilience orum):
Step 1
Protecting your aith community prior to the onset o the pandemic and inresponse to the pandemic by raising awareness through the dissemination o key
messages.
Step 2Planning or the continuity o core activities considered to be essential within
your aith community.
Step 3Planning to be able to cope with an increased demand or some services as a
result o the unique circumstances surrounding a pandemic.
Step 4Planning to be able to acilitate the response to the pandemic and potential new
demands resulting directly rom a pandemic.
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Section 4 Planning guidance or aith communities | 19
4.1 Step 1 Protecting your aith community
During a pandemic, applying good respiratory and hand hygiene practices and
encouraging compliance with public health advice are likely to make the most important
contribution to the UKs overall response. Good respiratory and hand hygiene practices, or
example, will play an important role in slowing the spread o a pandemic, whether people
are attending work, socialising, travelling on public transport or using public places.
In order to protect others and reduce the spread o inection, anyone with symptoms
consistent with an inuenza-like illness (ILI) should stay at home and minimise social/amily
contact until symptoms have resolved. They should only go out i absolutely necessary.
Those who do not have symptoms consistent with an ILI should continue normal activities
or as long and as ar as that is possible. They can reduce but not eliminate the risk ocatching or spreading inuenza by avoiding unnecessary close contact with those who
have symptoms consistent with an ILI and adopting high standards o respiratory and hand
hygiene at all times.
Simple measures will help individuals to protect themselves and others. The necessary
measures include:
Use a tissue to cover your nose and mouth when coughing and/or sneezing.
Dispose o the tissue promptly and then wash your hands. Tissues should be
disposed o in domestic waste and do not require any special treatment. Do
not use handkerchies or reuse tissues. This practice contaminates pockets or
handbags which will recontaminate hands every time they go into those pockets
or handbags.
Clean hands requently with soap and water, especially ater coughing, sneezing,
and using tissues. Soap and water is an eective means o cleaning hands,
however handrubs (microbicidal handrubs, particularly alcohol-based) can be
used as an alternative.
Minimise touching your mouth, eyes and/or nose, unless you have recently
cleaned your hands.
Clean suraces requently touched by hands; normal household detergent and
water will be adequate or this.
Clean your hands as soon as you arrive home.
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With this in mind, aith communities should consider the ollowing in advance o
a pandemic:
Ensure that adequate supplies o cleaning materials are readily available (or, i you
contract others to provide cleaning services, check that they have contingency
plans) and that there are procedures or regular cleaning o hard suraces.
Ensure that hand hygiene acilities are adequate and working properly; i/when
updating or repairing acilities, consider installing automatic or oot-operated
taps, dryers and waste bins. Ensure that you have stocks o tissues, paper towels
and soaps.
Consider how you might use hand cleansers 6, or example at the entrances to
rooms or sites without hand-washing acilities.
Check that you have procedures or isolating (with appropriate supervision)
anyone who alls ill within a aiths setting.
Ensure that your communities are all aware o the relevant procedures that will
be put in place during a pandemic and o the inection control guidance below.
In addition, the ollowing specifc inection control measures should be ollowed by aith
communities during a pandemic:
I you are blessing or anointing someone who has u (e.g. with oil) or laying
hands on them, you should wash your hands immediately aterwards.
In a pandemic, sharing o common vessels or ood and drink should cease. For
example, the sharing o cups or Christian Communion or Eucharist, and the
tradition o Langar in the Sikh religion or the ree vegetarian-only ood served in
a Gudwara.
In a pandemic, situations where a aith leader may cross-contaminate others
should cease, e.g. communion on the tongue may inect the priests fngers.
Remind parents and carers that children displaying u symptoms should stay
at home.
Those living and working in religious residential establishments will ace particular inection
control issues relating to preventing the spread o pandemic u. The spread o the virus to
healthy residents should be minimised by introducing strict inection control measures.
6 The term hand cleansers is used in this guidance or a range o cleansers and sanitisers available as gels, handrubs, wipes and sprays.You should ollow the manuacturers guidance on the use o such materials.
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4.2 Step 2 Planning or the continuity o core activities
An inuenza pandemic is likely to result in signifcant increases in the levels o absenteeism
within all organisations. Modelling suggests that organisations employing large numbers
o people, with exibility o sta redeployment, should ensure that their plans are capable
o handling sta absence rates o up to 15-20 per cent (in addition to usual absenteeism
levels). Small organisations, or larger organisations with small critical teams, should
plan or level o absence rising to 30-35 per cent at peak, perhaps higher or very small
organisations with only a handul o employees.
It is thereore important that aith communities prepare business continuity plans
which will enable them to maintain the continuity o critical core activities. This includes
identiying core activities i.e. those upon which society is most dependent and otheractivities which are less critical and could thereore be curtailed.
You may also wish to consider novel ways o reaching your aith community which will
reduce the levels o resources required. For example, newsletters, tapes and CDs or the
Internet may be utilised to keep people in touch with their aith.
The Cabinet Ofce has produced a detailed checklist or businesses7 specifcally relating to
pandemic inuenza. It identifes important and specifc activities which organisations can
do to prepare or a pandemic. Annex A o this document also provides business continuity
planning guidelines.
4.3 Step 3 Planning to be able to cope with an increaseddemand or some services
In addition to maintaining delivery o core activities, aith communities should also plan
on the basis o an increased demand or specifc services. For example, it is very likely that
during a pandemic aith leaders will ace increased calls to visit ill, dying and bereaved
people at home and in hospitals. It is very unlikely in the worse case scenarios that this willbe manageable within existing resources. It is thereore advisable to start planning or how
you might cope with this increased demand. Other organisations have made appropriate
arrangements in their u plans to help them deliver their services, e.g. by extending use o
volunteers and by prioritising essential activities.
You will also need to think about the act that your community is likely to be aected by
bereavement. In addition to planning with other local stakeholders or higher than usual
levels o uneral services, plans should take into account that people including workers and
ministers may be bereaved. Ensuring that care is provided or everyone who is bereaved will
be important.
7 http://www.cabinetofce.gov.uk/media/132464/060516ubcpchecklist.pd
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Section 4 Planning guidance or aith communities | 23
4.4 Step 4 Planning to be able to acilitate the response tothe pandemic and potential new demands
Faith leaders and their communities are regarded as a critical resource to the response
to a pandemic. They are likely to be able to acilitate some aspects o the response to a
pandemic. With this in mind, consideration should be given to:
Faith communities, through their leaders, can reach vulnerable populations
which emergency planners may not be able to (e.g. reugees and asylum
seekers may attend religious services and events but not be known to statutory
authorities). It is important that all groups are made aware o guidance being
issued by central government, including essential inection control messages and
how to access the relevant medical countermeasures.
You will need to think about care or members o your amily and community
who are ill who visits them and how they are trained in inection control.
Visiting people could help monitor those who are ill when statutory services
are stretched.
You could encourage and even organise members o your congregation to
be Flu Friends to collect antivirals, essential supplies and ood or those in the
community that are unable to do so themselves.
Faith leaders can also help to explain to their communities the rationale ogovernment decisions to deal with a pandemic including those potentially
contentious issues. By doing so, social tensions are likely to be reduced.
You should approach your Local Resilience Forum 8 to oer help i you eel you
can do any o the tasks covered in this guidance. You can contact them through
your local Emergency Planning Ofcer (Local Authority) or through the Director
o Public Health at the Primary Care Trust (England) or Local Health Board (Wales).
It is important to bear in mind that, while the measures detailed in the guidance
will be necessary in the event o a pandemic, they will be discontinued as soon as
it is clinically sae to do so, post pandemic.
8 The Local Resilience Forum is body responsible or the coordination o multi-agency emergency planning at the local level. Itsmembership includes all emergency services, local authorities and health bodies/authorities.
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Annex A
Checklist or aith communities
There are many things you can do. This checklist should be read in conjunction with the
generic business continuity checklist available at www.ukresilience.gov.uk/pandemic
1. Plan or the impact o a pandemic on your organisation and its mission:
Assign someone with the authority to develop, maintain and deliver
an inuenza pandemic preparedness and response plan or your aithcommunity.
Determine the potential impact o a pandemic on your organisations usualactivities and services. (e.g. how many will be ill and will reduced numbers opeople o ill aect worship? How will you continue the community groupswhich meet in your buildings? I you run care services, how will they ensurethey can deliver essential services?)
Plan or situations likely to require increasing, decreasing or altering theservices your organisation delivers. Work out what is essential and what youcan stop doing during a pandemic, e.g. some aith leaders may choose to
ocus on deploying scarce resources on maintaining worship services. Othersmay instead concentrate on making visits to comort the sick and bereaved.
Determine the potential impact o a pandemic on outside resources thatyour organisation depends on to deliver its services (e.g., your bank, buildingsuppliers, other supplies like paper, ood, and travel etc.)
How will you cope i these services ace problems?
Outline what the organisational structure will be during an emergency andrevise periodically. The outline should identiy key contacts with multipleback-ups in case people become ill. Identiy roles and responsibilities, andwho is supposed to report to whom, e.g. it may be possible or aith leadersto work across geographical borders to help neighbouring leaders in harderhit areas.
Identiy and train essential sta (including ull-time, part-time and unpaidor volunteer sta) needed to carry on your organisations work during apandemic. Include back up plans, cross-train sta in other jobs so that i staare sick, others are ready to come in to carry on the work.
Test your plan using an exercise or drill, and review and revise your planas needed.
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Annex A Checklist or aith communities | 25
2. Communicate with and educate your leaders, members, and persons in thecommunities that you serve:
Find up-to-date, reliable pandemic inormation and other inormationrom your Local Resilience Forum or the Health Protection Agency(www.hpa.org.uk).
Make this inormation available to your organisation and others. Placearticles in your newsletter and posters on notice boards.
Distribute materials with basic inormation about pandemic inuenza,especially this booklet and how to prevent inection spreading.
When appropriate, include basic inormation about pandemic inuenza inpublic meetings (e.g. sermons, scripture study or other classes, trainings,
small group meetings and announcements).
Share inormation about your pandemic preparedness and response planwith sta and people in the communities that you serve.
Have a one page version or members o your community. Develop leaets/yers and put inormation on your website including links to the sites listedin Section 4 below. Consider a pre-recorded message on an answer-phoneor people who cannot read.
Ensure that what you communicate is appropriate or the cultures,languages and reading levels o your sta, members, and persons in the
communities that you serve.
Inormation is available in a range o languages rom websites atSection 4 below.
Consider how your organisation can stop panic, increase morale in thecommunity and correct misinormation.
It might be possible to use the means listed above. How will you showleadership in this?
3. Plan or the impact o a pandemic on your sta, members, and the
communities that you serve:Plan or sta absences during a pandemic due to personal and/or amilyillnesses, and school, business, and public transport closures.
Sta may include ull-time, part-time and volunteer workers.
Identiy people with special needs (e.g. elderly, disabled, housebound,limited English speakers) and be sure to include their needs in your plan.
Establish relationships with them in advance so they will expect and trustyour presence during a crisis.
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4. Set up policies to ollow during a pandemic:
Ensure you have a policy which covers sick leave or workers and those they
care or (e.g. sick amily members) during a pandemic.Ensure that everyone paid and unpaid workers and members o yourcongregation understands that i they become ill they should remain athome until their symptoms resolve and they are physically ready to return toduty. They should ollow the advice that the Department o Health and NHSwill give about who to contact or help.
People who become ill at work should be sent home.
Work out what you can do to help the community in a pandemic. You maybe able to oer volunteers to pick up antivirals or those not able to do so
themselves, sta a helpline or do other practical tasks. Contact your LocalResilience Forum or the NHS Primary Care Trust/Local Health Board to see iyou can help out in these areas or in other ways.
Work with the Local Resilience Forum to make sure any volunteers youoer to help the community are appropriately screened and checkedbeore training.
Work with them in advance. When a pandemic starts it may well be too lateto help.
Work with Social Services, other aith organisations and other communities
to ensure your volunteers are properly trained or helping in any pandemic.Ensure any agreement you reach is written down in an easily understoodplan (it could be a section o your Local Resilience Forums Pandemic Flu Plan)Make sure the key people have a copy o it (e.g. local authority, NHS, yoursta and team, etc.)
Share what youve learned rom developing your preparedness with otherFaith- Based and Community Organisations to improve communityresponse eorts.
Be clear how you will activate your organisations response plan when an
inuenza pandemic is declared.
Also be clear about who will trigger your organisations support or thecommunity, and how.
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Annex B Key Documents | 27
Annex B
Key Documents
UK Resilience website
www.cabinetofce.gov.uk/ukresilience.aspx
Department o Health website on Pandemic Flu
www.dh.gov.uk/en/PandemicFlu/index.htm
Health Protection Agency website on Pandemic Fluwww.hpa.org.uk/inections/topics_az/inuenza/pandemic/deault.htm
Inormation or Employers on Pandemic Flu
www.hse.gov.uk/biosaety/diseases/pandemic.htm
Inormation on Committee on Ethical Aspects o Pandemic Inuenza (CEAPI)
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Flu/PandemicFlu/DH_065163
A checklist or pastoral planning or a u pandemic
www.lancasterrcdiocese.org.uk/bishop/checklist.pd
A pastoral plan or a u pandemic
www.lancasterrcdiocese.org.uk/bishop/Pastoral_planning_or_a_u_pandemic_
RevNickDonnelly.pd
The Needs o Faith Communities in Major Emergencies
http://security.homeofce.gov.uk/news-publications/publication-search/
guidance-disasters/aith-communities
http://www.lancasterrcdiocese.org.uk/bishop/Pastoral_planning_for_a_flu_pandemic_http://www.lancasterrcdiocese.org.uk/bishop/Pastoral_planning_for_a_flu_pandemic_http://www.lancasterrcdiocese.org.uk/bishop/Pastoral_planning_for_a_flu_pandemic_http://www.security.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-publications/publication-search/http://www.security.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-publications/publication-search/http://www.lancasterrcdiocese.org.uk/bishop/Pastoral_planning_for_a_flu_pandemic_http://www.security.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-publications/publication-search/ -
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