Pandemic Planning and Preparedness for the Impact of the Coronavirus

Given the media coverage of the spread of the Coronavirus and the numbers of those infected globally, it’s time to revisit your pandemic planning preparedness. This should be an integral component in your business continuance strategy.

Guidelines for pandemic preparations should address:

· Staff wellbeing, pandemic awareness and training

· Review and implantation of workspace cleanliness procedures

· Regular cleaning of workspaces (e.g., office doors, conference rooms, offices, restrooms, cafeteria and food preparation areas)

· A process for reporting staff health and wellness issues: have staff members, family members or significant others been infected or are being treated?

· A process for escalation of a pandemic plan that includes social distancing (working remotely)

· Review, upgrade and implementation of remote access infrastructures (company issued laptops, Citrix/remote access login capabilities, increased software licenses or network bandwidth).

Remember, forewarned is forearmed. Don’t wait until a percentage of your staff is out sick or have infected the office!