General

The purpose of the Pandemic Event Plan is to provide a coordinated and comprehensive response to a pandemic event in order to help ensure continuation of education and services.  If a pandemic event occurs, the college will work closely with local, state, and federal agencies to coordinate the most appropriate response.  The planning document is by no means complete nor is it intended to be.  Depending upon the type and severity of the pandemic event, this plan will need to be adjusted accordingly.

Objectives

The specific objectives during a local pandemic event are as follows:
1. Reduce transmission of the pandemic virus strain among students, faculty, and staff.
2. Minimize illness among employees and students.
3. Maintain critical operations and services.

Assumptions

The following planning assumptions were utilized in the development of this plan:
1. There may be less than six weeks of warning from the time the pandemic is announced before it reaches our community.
2. The pandemic may last as long as 18 months with several waves.
3. Waves of severe disease may last 1 to 4 months.
4. Up to 50% of the workforce/students could be out sick during a pandemic with absenteeism occurring in rolling waves which rise and fall over several weeks as people get sick, care for family members, or stay home with children if schools close.  In a severe pandemic, up to 2.5% of people will die.
5. Work flexibility may be necessary which could include; staggered shifts, expansion of physical space between work stations, or allowing people to work from home.
6. Leave policies may need to be flexible.
7. Encourage a broad prevention program which could include general hygiene measures, comprehensive sanitation of facilities, and vaccination of key personnel (if available).
8. Critical goods and services provided by contractors and vendors may be erratic.

Alert Stages

The Springfield/Greene County Health Department has developed six alert stages pertaining to a possible pandemic outbreak.  These alert stages are described below with the detail response plan to each located in Appendix D.

Alert Stage 1

A pandemic event has occurred; however, no new human-to-human transmission of the virus has been identified. Review priority services list and determine how this alert stage will impact campus activities and what if any countermeasures can be done to minimize the impact.

Alert Stage 2

The pandemic event has expanded and human-to-human transmission of the virus has occurred; however, the cases are located outside of the local area.  Review priority services list and determine how this alert stage will impact campus activities and what if any countermeasures can be done to minimize the impact.

Alert Stage 3

The pandemic event and human-to-human transmission has now been identified in a few local cases.  There may be an increase in absenteeism of both faculty/staff and students.  Review priority services list and determine how this alert stage will impact campus activities and what if any countermeasures can be done to minimize the impact.

Alert Stage 4

Local clusters of the pandemic event have been confirmed possibly including some cases on campus.  There is a significant increase in absenteeism of both faculty/staff and students.  This may result in some isolation, quarantine, and/or social distancing requirements.  Review priority services list and determine how this alert stage will impact campus activities and what if any countermeasures can be done to minimize the impact.

Alert Stage 5

The pandemic has changed and there is now widespread infection.  Absenteeism among staff/faculty and students is extremely high.  There is a high probability the College could be quarantined or closed.  Review priority services list and determine how this alert stage will impact campus activities and what if any countermeasures can be done to minimize the impact.

Alert Stage 6

The pandemic event has significantly declined to a point where recovery has been declared.  Normal operations may begin based on the availability of staff.

An evaluation will be completed and response initiated based on the extent of the pandemic event and the actions taken by the College.

Authority

The authority to declare a state of emergency based on a pandemic event lays with the college chancellor or his/her designee.

Pandemic Crisis Management Team

In the event of a pandemic event, the coordination of operations will be directed by the Crisis Management Team comprised of the Decision Group and the Operations Group as outlined in the Crisis Management Plan.

Communication

In the event of a pandemic event, the coordination of all communications will follow those guidelines as outlined in the Crisis Management Plan.