48762947.pdf

\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER TITLE ACCREDITATION Pandemic Response PRIOR REVISIONS N/A PROPONENT UNIT Patrol Support Bureau ATTACHMENT: 1 NUMBER ISSUE DATE REVISION DATE TOTAL PAGES 46.16 08/07/2020 New 15 I. PURPOSE: To provide guidance for the development of contingency plans, organization of resources and establishment of agency protocols that can be used to respond to and help mitigate the effects of an infectious disease pandemic or similar health emergency. II. SCOPE: This order shall apply to all GPD members. III. POLICY: It is the policy of the Gainesville Police Department (GPD) to have a plan in the event of a pandemic outbreak or similar health emergency. GPD shall coordinate its response with, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO) to ensure crucial law enforcement services are not unreasonably disrupted and members are provided with the means to either prevent or mitigate the spread of infection. GPD members shall be guided by the procedures provided in this policy. IV. DEFINITIONS Deferred Calls for Service: Calls not requiring immediate officer response which can be received either by telephone or internet reporting capabilities. Essential Positions and Assignments: Employees who possess special knowledge, skills, or abilities and whose extended absence would create serious disruptions to a critical agency function. The Chief of Police has deemed all GPD employees as essential. Facial Covering: any non-respirator type covering. This would include a common surgical mask or piece of outerwear such as a scarf or neck covering pulled over face. Incubation Period: Interval between infection and onset of symptoms. Influenza: Often referred to as the flu; an acute infectious viral disease marked by inflammation of the respiratory tract, fever, muscular aches and pains. Isolation: Separation of infected persons from those who are not infected. N95 Respirator: A disposable particulate respiratory protective device that blocks approximately 95% of non-oil-based particulates.\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT Pandemic: When a new disease strain emerges for which there is little or no immunity among humans, begins to cause serious illness and then spreads easily from person to person. Examples of potentially pandemic diseases include, but are not limited to: • Coronavirus • Influenza • SARS-CoV • H1N1 Virus • H3N2 Virus • Smallpox • H5Nl Virus (Avian Flu) Quarantine: Legally enforceable order that restricts movement into or out of the area of quarantine of one person, a large group of people, or community, designed to reduce the likelihood of transmission of contagious disease among persons in and to persons outside the affected area. When applied to all inhabitants of an area, (typically a community or neighborhood), the intervention is referred to as a cordon sanitaire (sanitary barrier). Seasonal (or Common) Flu: A respiratory illness that can be transmitted from person to person. Most people have some immunity, and a vaccine is available. Social Distancing: Measures taken to reduce contact between individuals in order to lower the chance of spreading the disease. Strategic National Stockpile: A national repository of antibiotics, chemical antidotes, antitoxins, life-support medications, IV administration equipment, airway maintenance supplies, and medical and surgical items designed to supplement and resupply state and local public health agencies in the event of a national emergency. Voluntary Quarantine: A request that persons remain at home, ban visitors, wears a mask when in the same room as other members of the household, and sleep in a separate room. Volunteer: Someone who performs a service for the agency without promise, expectation, or receipt of compensation for services rendered. Volunteers may include unpaid chaplains, unpaid interns, and unpaid persons providing administrative support, among others. V. STAGES OF PANDEMIC The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined the following stages of a pandemic 2\n\n--- Page 3 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT A. Inter-pandemic period: Phase 1: No infectious disease subtypes have been detected in humans. An infectious disease subtype that has caused human infection may be present in animals. If present in animals, the risk of human infection or disease is considered to be low. Phase 2: No disease subtypes have been detected in humans. However, a circulating disease subtype poses a substantial risk of human disease. B. Pandemic alert period: Phase 3: Human infection(s) with a new subtype but no human-to-human spread or, at most, rare instances of spread to a close contact. Phase 4: Small cluster(s) with limited human-to-human transmission but spread is highly localized, suggesting the infectious disease is not well adapted to humans. Phase 5: Larger cluster(s) but human-to-human spread still localized, suggesting the infectious disease is becoming increasingly better adapted to humans but may not yet be fully transmissible (substantial pandemic risk). C. Pandemic period: Phase 6: Pandemic: Increased and sustained transmission in general population. Notes: The distinction between phases 1 and 2 is based on the risk of human infection or disease resulting from circulating strains in animals. The distinction is based on various factors and their relative importance according to current scientific knowledge. Factors may include pathogenicity in animals and humans, occurrence in domesticated animals and livestock or only in wildlife, whether the infectious disease is enzootic or epizootic, geographically localized or widespread, and other scientific parameters. The distinction among phases 3, 4, and 5 is based on an assessment of the risk of a pandemic. Various factors and their relative importance according to current scientific 3\n\n--- Page 4 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT knowledge may be considered. Factors may include rate of transmission, geographical location and spread, severity of illness, presence of genes from human strains (if derived from an animal strain), and other scientific parameters. D. Post-peak period: During the post-peak period, pandemic disease levels with adequate surveillance shall have dropped below peak observed levels. The post-peak period signifies that pandemic activity appears to be decreasing; however, it is uncertain if additional waves shall occur and whether agency members need to be prepared for a second wave. Previous pandemics have been characterized by waves of activity spread over months. Once the level of infectious disease activity drops; a critical communications task shall be to balance this information with the possibility of another wave. Pandemic waves can be separated by months and an immediate “at ease” signal may be premature. E. Post-pandemic period: In the post-peak period, infectious disease activity shall have returned to levels normally seen for seasonal outbreaks. At this stage, it is important to maintain surveillance and update pandemic preparedness and response plans accordingly. An intensive phase of recovery and evaluation may be required. VI. PROCEDURE: A. Essential Personnel: 1. Due to the many challenges faced just prior to, during, and immediately after an event such as a pandemic, all members assigned to GPD shall be classified as essential personnel and shall be required to be available to work. 2. Not all members may be able to work from GPD facilities due to illness and/or caring for sick family members. 3. GPD members who have been quarantined due to potential exposure shall also be required to work from home during their normal work hours, if the City is paying them. 4. Essential functions shall be identified and methods for telecommuting to perform the functions may be authorized by the Chief/ Designee. 5. Differential response to calls for service shall be of critical importance when conducting daily assignm