Today (3rd March) the Government published its coronavirus action plan which provides information on what further action can be expected from the Government in response to coronavirus (COVID-19).
The action plan includes information on what is known about the virus and the disease it causes, how the government has planned for an infectious disease outbreak, the actions that have been taken so far, what the government plans to do next depending on the course of the outbreak, and the role that the public can play in supporting this response.
In the event of the outbreak worsening, or a severe prolonged pandemic, the action plan states that the Government’s response will escalate, moving from Contain to Delay and through to Mitigate, each stage will be informed by new research.
Last week, the government issued guidance to assist employers and businesses provide advice to staff on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and how to prevent the spread of all respiratory infections.
The guidance covers the following issues: how to help prevent spread of all respiratory infections including COVID-19, what to do if someone with suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 has been in a workplace setting, what advice to give to individuals who have travelled to specific areas, as outlined by the Chief Medical Officer.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “The government has provided guidance for employers and employees on how to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and we will continue to provide members with further updates as more information becomes available.
“If you have any concerns about how the virus may affect your customers, colleagues and business, please get in touch so that we can raise these issues directly to Government.”
The Government are planning for the delay and mitigation stages to reduce the impact of the outbreak. The Government has stated that they may consider taking additional measures including: encouraging working from home, focusing police response on only responding to the most serious crimes and maintaining public order, and the military could also provide support to emergency services if needed.
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