An Alexandria working group has released a draft of its plan for the city to deal with pandemic flu that includes calls for better methods of communicating with the public and for quarantines of infected people.
Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille formed the group in 2005, when fears of pandemic flu were at their zenith. The group was made up of public health officials from the city and state governments, as well as officials from private health organizations and nonprofits in Alexandria.
The group dealt with a number of issues, from public communication to continuity of government plans. In each, there were areas identified in which the city needed to improve readiness.
For example, the city has to make plans for isolation of patients and for family members exposed to the infected person. The group came up with a plan for quarantines, which is expected to be tested in an upcoming disaster preparedness drill.
The group also found the city needs to rework its continuity of government plan.
“City government will … need to establish the decision-making process to be used if a pandemic occurs,” the group said in its draft report. “For example, it is far preferable to determine in advance how decisions will be made, and by whom, concerning the closing of events orfacilities.”
