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Police have plans in place for potential pandemic

'We already have supplies of masks, gloves sanitary drinking water'
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File photo

City police say their plans around dealing with emergencies like pandemics are continually refreshed with new information and available to its members. 

Community Safety Coordinator John Schultz admits the new coronavirus hasn't come up yet, but pandemic situations are covered off in the plan. 

"If it was to hit our community, our police leaders would be well-appraised of that and making sure our pandemic plan is put into effect," said Schultz. 

"All front line service providers in government have plans for this and you look to the past to prepare for the future. So looking back on past influenza pandemics and studies done by the World Health Organization. 

"A pandemic plan, so to speak, is continually looked at and refreshed. Public Safety is obviously the number one priority."

Schultz says the World Health Organization estimates 15 to 35 per cent of the workforce could be impacted, so police would have to look at front-line service as a priority.  

"We'd probably be looking at cancelling vacation, cancelling courses and making sure our frontline services are available," he said.

"We already have supplies of masks, gloves sanitary drinking water."

See related: Virus infects more than 1,700 health workers in China, six die

One thing that could change is access to the police building.  

"We would also have to potentially limit access at our front doors," he said.  

"Is there a way we can do that, still deliver service without encouraging the spread of flu disease." 

He also says they could probably expect to be called to healthcare facilities as line-ups get longer. 

The plan also looks at hygiene initiatives, redeployment of staff, public access to police headquarters and restrictions around calls for service. 


Chris Dawson

About the Author: Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson has been with BayToday.ca since 2004. He has provided up-to-the-minute sports coverage and has become a key member of the BayToday news team.
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