017. Faith Communities and Pandemic Communities

8/14/2019 017. Faith Communities and Pandemic Communities

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Faith Communities and Pandemic Flu:Guidance or aith communities and localinuenza pandemic committees

www.communities.gov.ukcommunity, opportunity, prosperity


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May 2009Department for Communities and Local Government

Faith Communities and Pandemic Flu:Guidance or aith communities and localinuenza pandemic committees


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Communities and Local Government

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Contents | 3

Contents

Executive Summary 5

Section 1 Introduction 7

1.1 Aim 7

1.2 Audience 8

1.3 Using this guidance 8

1.4 Further inormation 8

Section 2 Pandemic infuenza background 92.1 What is pandemic infuenza 9

2.2 What will a pandemic infuenza look like? 9

2.3 Signs and symptoms o fu 10

2.4 Incubation and inection periods 11

2.5 What should you do i you have symptoms? 11

2.6 How Is a pandemic caught and spread to others? 12

2.7 What should individuals do to protect themselves and

others rom pandemic fu? 12

Section 3 How will pandemic infuenza plans aect aith communities? 13

3.1 Mass gatherings 13

3.2 Distribution o anti-virals Flu riends 14

3.3 Repatriation and overseas travel 15

3.4 Schools and child care settings 15

3.5 Management o excess deaths 15

Section 4 Planning guidance or aith communities 18

4.1 Step 1 Protecting your aith community 19

4.2 Step 2 Planning or the continuity o core activities 22

4.3 Step 3 Planning to be able to cope with an increaseddemand or some services 23

4.4 Step 4 Planning to be able to acilitate the response tothe pandemic and potential new demands 24

ANNEX A Checklist or aith communities 24

ANNEX B Key Documents 27


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Executive Summary | 5

Executive Summary

The threat o a potential world-wide inuenza pandemic presents a real and dauntingchallenge to the health, social and economic well being o any country. Planning and

preparing now will help to lessen its impact and aid in the UKs recovery rom an inuenza

pandemic. The UK Government and key partners across all o society are thereore working

together now to take every practical and proportional step to ensure that the UK prepares

well or the pandemic this guidance document orms part o that eort.

Faith communities are an integral group o UK society, with the majority o the UKs

population identiying themselves as having some kind o religious aith or link to religious

tradition and thousands actively participating in aith communities across the country.There are in excess o 11,000 aith leaders in the UK who can coordinate communities and

who have experience, expertise and assets which are a valuable resource to the public. In

the event o an inuenza pandemic, the role o aith communities is likely to be o particular

importance.

This guidance brings together the UKs planning assumptions and the Governments

response strategy or the various aspects o an inuenza pandemic that will be particularly

relevant to aith communities. It also draws on existing good practice across aith

communities in the UK and abroad.

The guidance will help those at dierent levels in all aith communities in their

consideration o the direct impacts that a pandemic will have on their communities and the

ways in which they can protect themselves and others. It will, at the same time, help in the

wider response to the pandemic and minimise its impacts or all o society.

The guidance also recognises that planning or a pandemic, and responding to one

while it is happening, involves many difcult decisions which may have the potential to

create tension between the needs o individuals/communities and the needs o the wider

population. In some cases, this may mean that difcult decisions may have to be made orthe greater good o the UK population as the benefts to be gained rom these actions has

been judged to outweigh its potential impacts.

In all its pandemic inuenza planning, the UK has robustly applied the ethical ramework1

already set out by the Government or responding to this threat. This means:

Everyone matters

Everyone matters equally but this does not mean that everyone is treated

the same

The interests o each person are the concern o all o us, and o society

1 http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_080751


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6 | Faith Communities and Pandemic Flu: Guidance or aith communities and local inuenza pandemic committees

The harm that might be suered by every person matters, and so minimising the

harm that a pandemic might cause is a central concern.

Working together to plan or, and respond to, a pandemic?

Helping one another

Taking responsibility or our own behaviour, or example by not exposing others

to risk

The UK Government aims to ensure that its approach to inuenza pandemic planning

and response is open and transparent. Those issues considered contentious and the

proposed government plans to deal with them are discussed openly within this document

to stimulate inormed planning and discussions at all levels o society including within aith

communities.

Although pandemic inuenza remains one o the most severe natural challenges likely to

aect the UK, by working together and preparing proportionately, we can all do a great

deal to lesson its potential impact on our health, social and economic wellbeing.

This document was drated by CLG and the Cabinet Ofce in consultation with ofcials

rom the Health Protection Agency, Department o Health and Home Ofce.

Thanks are due to the Faith Communities Consultative Council u planning working group

under the Chair o Monsignor John Devine o the Catholic Bishops Conerence. Specifcthanks are also due to Jim McManus, Assistant Director at the Barking and Dagenham

Primary Care trust, particularly or his earlier work on drating key sections o this guidance.


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Section 1 Introduction | 7

Section 1

Introduction

1.1 Aim

This guidance aims to encourage and support aith communities in planning or a human

inuenza pandemic. It provides a brie background on pandemic u, its potential impact

on the UK, the proposed government response and the implications or aith communities.

It also explains the role aith communities could play in helping to acilitate the response toa pandemic within their communities.

This document is intended to be read in conjunction with the National Framework or

Responding to an Infuenza Pandemic2, and Key Communities, Key Resources: engaging

the capacity and capabilities o aith communities in civil resilience, which was published by

CLG in July 20083. The National Framework describes, in detail, the Governments strategic

approach to and preparations or an inuenza pandemic, and sets out the UK planning

assumptions or the dierent phases o a pandemic. The Key Communities document is

intended to help emergency planners and aith communities prepare or and deal withlarge scale incidents such as an inuenza pandemic. It deals with principles and provides

tools and a roadmap or good practice.

This document does not attempt to duplicate the inormation in the National Framework;

however where necessary inormation has been summarised and included. Cross

reerences to the relevant sections o the National Framework have been included

where appropriate.

Emergency planners may also wish to acquaint themselves with the 2005 Home Ofce/

Cabinet Ofce guidance The Needs o Faith Communities in Major Emergencies4.

2 http://www.cabinetofce.gov.uk/ukresilience/pandemicu/guidance/national.aspx

3 http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/civilresilience

4 http://security.homeofce.gov.uk/news-publications/publication-search/guidance-disasters/aith-communities


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1.2 Audience

This guidance is aimed primarily at all aith communities and community leaders in

England. It may also be o some interest to emergency planners in central government,

local authorities and the uniormed services.

Faith leaders and communities in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales should fnd it useul

to reer to this guidance alongside any other that may have been published by their own

devolved administrations.

1.3 Using this guidance

This document should be read in advance o a pandemic inuenza to ensure that robust

preparations/plans are in place or aith communities.

This guidance is comprised o our sections:

Section 1 introductory remarks.

Section 2 generic pandemic inuenza background inormation.

Section 3 details o the proposed government response to a pandemic which maybe o particular interest to some aith communities.

Section 4 inormation to acilitate planning and response within aith communities.

This section is subdivided into guidance on how to protect your community, business

continuity planning to maintain and expand existing unctions, and inormation on

new unctions which aith communities may consider to acilitate the response.

In order to help you develop and implement your plans or a possible u pandemic, we

recommend that everyone who is responsible or aith communities planning should read

this guidance and the checklist provided at Annex A. You should also take note o Annex B,which provides links to a wide range o other sources o inormation and guidance.

1.4 Further inormation

Annex B provides a number o links to additional inormation. Any urther questions or

eedback on this document should be directed to the Cohesion and Faiths Division in the

Department or Communities and Local Government i they relate specifcally to aith

issues ([email protected]), and to the Civil Contingencies Secretariat at the

Cabinet Ofce i they relate to emergency planning (CCSAssessmentsTeam@cabinet-

ofce.x.gsi.gov.ukg).


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Section 2 Pandemic inuenza background | 9

Section 2

Pandemic inuenza background

2.1 What is pandemic inuenza?

Flu is a amiliar inection in the UK, especially during the winter months. The illness, caused

by the u virus, can be mild or severe and, at times, can lead to death.

Some groups o people are more susceptible to u than others, in particular: older people;young children and those with certain medical conditions.

Pandemic u is dierent rom ordinary u because it occurs when a new u virus emerges

into the human population and spreads rom person to person worldwide all countries

will be aected. As it is a new virus, the entire population will be susceptible because no

one will have any immunity to it. Thereore, healthy adults as well as older people, young

children and people with existing medical conditions will be aected. The lack o immunity

in the UK population will mean that the virus has the potential to spread very quickly

between people. This will result in many more people becoming severely ill and many

more deaths.

The circumstances exist now or a new u virus to emerge and spread worldwide.

Although a pandemic has not yet started, experts warn that it could soon.

2.2 What will a pandemic inuenza look like?

This section should be read alongside Section 3 o the National Framework.

One o the main challenges aced by those planning against an inuenza pandemic

is that the nature and impact o the pandemic virus cannot be known until it emerges

and thereore response arrangements must be exible enough to deal with a range o

possibilities and be capable o adjustment as they are implemented.


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Until then, planning should be based on the assumptions set out in A National Framework

or Responding to an Infuenza Pandemic and as summarised below. These assumptions

have been derived rom a combination o current virological and clinical knowledge, expert

analysis, extrapolations rom previous pandemics and mathematical modelling:

Duration and timing A uture inuenza pandemic could occur at any time.

It may come in two or more waves several months apart. Each wave may last

two to three months across the UK as a whole. I a pandemic u strain emerges

overseas, it will almost certainly reach the UK; while this may take around a

month, planners cannot rely upon having that much orewarning. Once the

pandemic arrives, it is likely to spread throughout the country in a matter o

weeks.

Depending upon the virulence o the inuenza virus, the susceptibility o the

population and the eectiveness o countermeasures, up to 50 per cent o the

population could become ill and up to 750,000 additional deaths (that is deaths

that would not have happened over the same period o time had a pandemic not

taken place) could occur by the end o a pandemic in the UK.

Increased sta absenteeism levels (resulting rom illness, caring responsibilities,

school closures, public transport closures, death etc) throughout the pandemic

period. As a rough working guide, organisations employing large numbers o

people, with exibility o sta redeployment, should ensure that their plans are

capable o handling sta absence rates o up to 15-20 per cent (in addition tousual absenteeism levels). Small organisations, or larger organisations with small

critical teams, should plan or level o absence rising to 30-35 per cent at peak,

perhaps higher or very small organisations with only a handul o employees.

In the absence o early or eective interventions, society may also ace much

wider social and economic disruption, lower production levels, shortages and

distribution difculties.

2.3 Signs and symptoms o uIt is likely that the signs and symptoms o pandemic u will be the same as or ordinary u

but may be more severe and cause more serious complications.

The most signifcant symptoms are the sudden onset o:

Fever

Cough or shortness o breath.


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Section 2 Pandemic inuenza background | 11

Other symptoms may include:

Headache

Tiredness

Chills

Aching muscles

Sore throat

Runny nose

Sneezing

Loss o appetite.

2.4 Incubation and inection periods

The incubation period (time between contact with the virus and the onset o symptoms)

ranges rom one to our days, or most people it will be two to three days.

People are most inectious to others soon ater they develop symptoms though they can

continue to shed the virus, or example in coughs and sneezes, typically or up to fve days

(seven days in children). People become less inectious as their symptoms subside and once

symptoms are gone, they are considered no longer inectious to others.

2.5 What should you do i you have symptoms?

I you develop symptoms:

Stay at home

For advice and an initial assessment o symptoms, contact the National Flu Line

service in the frst instance

Phone your employer or occupational health department

Do not go to work until you are ully recovered.


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2.6 How is pandemic u caught and spread to others?

Flu, including pandemic u, is spread rom person to person by close contact. Some

examples o how it can be spread include:

Coughing and/or sneezing by an inected person within a short distance (usually

one metre or less) o someone

Touching or shaking the hand o an inected person and then touching your

mouth, eyes or nose without frst washing your hands

Touching suraces or objects (e.g. door handles) that have become contaminated

with the u virus and then touching your mouth, eyes or nose without frst

washing your hands.

2.7 What should individuals do to protect themselves andothers rom pandemic u?

Use a tissue to cover your nose and mouth when coughing and/or sneezing.

Dispose o the tissue promptly and then wash your hands. Tissues should be

disposed o in domestic waste and do not require any special treatment. Do

not use handkerchies or reuse tissues. This practice contaminates pockets or

handbags which will recontaminate hands every time they go into those pocketsor handbags.

Clean hands requently, especially ater coughing, sneezing and using tissues.

Soap and water is an eective means o cleaning hands, however handrubs

(microbicidal handrubs, particularly alcohol-based) can be used as an alternative.

Minimise touching your mouth, eyes and/or nose, unless you have recently

cleaned your hands.

Use normal household detergent and water to clean suraces requently touched

by hands.

Clean your hands as soon as you arrive home.


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Section 3 How will pandemic inuenza plans aect aith communities? | 13

Section 3

How will pandemic inuenza plansaect aith communities?

The UK government has been making preparations or a pandemic or many years these

preparations are based on limiting the health, social and economic impacts o a pandemic

and acilitating recovery.

All government planning, including those specifc aspects outlined below have beensubject to widespread consultation and the easibility, merits and ethical impacts o the

specifc response options have been considered ully. The undamental principles o equal

respect and concern have been applied to all policies relating to inuenza pandemic.

The proposed UK response actions which may directly impact on some aiths communities

are described below. Full details o the response arrangements being planned by the UK are

available at: www.cabinetofce.gov.uk/ukresilience/pandemicu.aspx

3.1 Mass gatherings

Public gatherings, particularly those involving worship, are a undamental part o every day

lie or aith communities and can help maintain morale during a pandemic. Whilst close

contact with others in a confned space can accelerate the inuenza virus, there is little

direct evidence o the benefts o cancelling such gatherings among healthy people.

For planning purposes, the presumption should be that the Government is unlikely to

recommend a blanket ban on religious or other types o gatherings. However, inormed

judgements by community aith leaders and their respective organisations in conjunctionwith the regulatory authorities and local planners will help in any decision about whether

to suspend gatherings.

However, as in any situation where people come into close contact, good hygiene

precautions should be adhered to, including robust policies that individuals who are ill or

have inuenza-like symptoms remain at home. The ull range on inection control and

hygiene measures are described in section 4.1.

Although evidence does not support a blanket ban on public gatherings, it should also

be recognised that individuals may decide not to attend them. Parents, or example, maychoose not to allow children, who are particularly vulnerable, to attend religious classes.


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Transport difculties, public order, crowd saety or other similar considerations may also

aect decisions on staging such events. Organisers and/or governing bodies and licensing

authorities (where relevant) might thereore decide to cancel events to minimise difculties

or avoid economic or other risks. Decisions can only be taken in the light o inormation andthe circumstances at the time.

With this in mind aith communities may wish to make plans to provide additional support

to their members outside o the routine gatherings.

3.2 Distribution o antivirals/Flu Line

The UK government is stockpiling specifc clinical countermeasures that could have a

signifcant benefcial impact in responding to a pandemic (both by reducing the spread o

the virus and reducing deaths). This includes a stockpile o antiviral medicines.

Antiviral medicines orm the main clinical intervention during the initial response to a

pandemic. For maximum beneft, antivirals need to be taken as soon as possible, preerably

within 12 hours, but at least within 48 hours o the onset o symptoms. Using the health

service to authorise antiviral medicines to all symptomatic members o the public would be

unsustainable during a pandemic and, as a result, a Flu Line service is being developed to

distribute antiviral medicines to symptomatic members o the public.

On contacting the Flu Line, members o the public will gain an initial assessment o their

symptoms (using a clinically-based algorithm), advice, triage, and i appropriate (e.g. they

are symptomatic and able to take the antivirals within 48 hours o onset o symptoms)

authorisation o antiviral medicines.

On having their identity verifed and being given a unique reerence number, they will then

be asked to send a Flu Friend (a riend, amily member, or carer) to a local collection point

(e.g. community pharmacy) to collect their antiviral medicine or them.

Faith community representatives will want to consider the impacts o this policy on their

communities. They will want to consider:

How to help with communicating messages to individuals to inorm them o the

processes or accessing these drugs; and

Forming a u riend network within their communities to collect antivirals or

vulnerable people.


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3.3 Repatriation and overseas travel

The Foreign & Commonwealth Ofce (FCO) will not be assisting with the evacuation

o, or supplying antiviral medicines to, British Nationals (BNs) who are overseas during a

pandemic.

The FCO will issue travel advice during an inuenza pandemic (both beore it hits the

UK and during), which will be proportionate to the risks and in line with World Health

Organisation (WHO) recommendations. This is likely to recommend against all non-

essential travel to aected and neighbouring countries, and advising British Nationals in

those countries wishing to leave to do so without delay.

Faith communities are advised to consult the FCO website or the latest travel inormationand to obtain advice rom the Health Protection Agency about communities going on

pilgrimage (e.g. Hajj) during or beore an inuenza pandemic. Depending on the severity o

the pandemic, it may be sensible to suspend such travel.

3.4 Schools and child care settings

It is possible that the Government will, through local authorities, advise schools (including

aith based schools) and early years and childcare settings to close to children during a

pandemic. This policy is based on mathematical modelling derived rom seasonal uepidemics that show that school closures could have an impact on the numbers o children

aected at the peak o an inuenza pandemic and potentially on the duration a pandemic.

Faith community representatives will want to consider how they would communicate

decisions about the closure o schools and weekend classes to their aith community.

3.5 Management o excess deaths

During an emergency, ensuring that arrangements or those who have died are respectulo the belies and sensitivities o the deceased and bereaved and pragmatic in civil resilience

terms remains a priority or emergency planners and aith communities alike.

In 2005 the Home Ofce and Cabinet Ofce produced The needs o Faith Communities

in Major Emergencies: Some Guidelines. More recently CLG also published the Key

Communities, Key Resources document reerred to earlier in this guidance. These

documents set out the specifc needs o individual aith communities in some detail, and

emphasised the need or emergency planners to consider the ull impact o a crisis on the

management o the dead and the care o the bereaved.


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With this in mind the Home Ofce has published guidance specifcally relating to an

inuenza pandemic or those involved in the deaths management process5. This document

highlights the predicted impact o the additional deaths and provides a ramework by

which planners should manage this process. In summary the level o additional atalitiesresulting rom an inuenza pandemic (up to 750,000 over a 15 week period) will place

considerable pressure on already stretched local systems and are likely to overwhelm usual

systems or managing the deaths process.

Thereore a number o processes have been proposed to increase capacity. Many o these

involve minor changes to current practises such as working longer hours, which aim

to maintain services as near to normal as possible or as long as practicable. However,

in a worst case scenario these contingency arrangements are unlikely to be enough to

cope with the demand and other more signifcant changes to working practices will beneeded to sustain the deaths management process. In such circumstances it may become

necessary or uneral directors to restrict the choices available to the bereaved.

It is clear that certain public services will be under considerable pressure to deal with those

that have died. As a result o this, any specifc needs aith communities may have in this

area are highly unlikely to be met ully by the usual death management process. During

an inuenza pandemic, it will not be possible to prioritise the needs o aith communities.

Doing so would be in contradiction to the overarching ethical ramework, may create

signifcant social tension and in a reasonable worst case scenario would not be possible.

Faith communities, in particular, will thereore play a key role in uneral services and in the

burial/cremation process. They should be engaged by those leading local planning and may

also wish to develop their own business continuity plans. While it is important to ensure

that the proper respect and treatment o those who have died is provided according to

individual aith requirements, during a pandemic there will be some specifc challenges:

At the peak o a severe pandemic, it may not be possible to bury or cremate those

who have died as quickly as a particular aith may decree because o the large

numbers o people who are dying. You need to ensure that you and memberso your aith community understand this and do not place additional strain on

essential services.

You may wish to consider whether your community will pre-arrange memorial

services at a later date as an alternative to large uneral services, particularly i

aith leaders are themselves aected by the virus.

You may need to consider what rituals or other religious or spiritual care you can

give to members o your community in situations where there must be a delay in

disposing o a body.

5 www.cabinetofce.gov.uk/media/131642/u_managing_deaths_ramework.pd


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You will need to liaise closely with uneral directors about what is and is not

permissible during the uneral and what is permissible about how bodies will be

disposed o. In most cases the usual methods in your aith will be acceptable,

unless there are particular circumstances. The uneral director should explainthese to you.

Most ritual washings should be permissible but a uneral director will need to be

consulted. Those doing the washing will need to wear gloves and aprons. They

will need to be supervised by an undertaker and will need to wash their hands

thoroughly with soap and water aterwards.

As part o their business continuity plans, aith community representatives will also want

to consider the impacts o potential changes to the deaths management process on their

communities. They will want to consider:

their duty o care to sta

what they might do to increase their capacity to provide religious uneral services

how these will ft in with the Dierent Ways o Working being implemented by

the other organisations in the process

whether they can sustain these taking place at the cemetery or crematorium

chapel, chosen place o worship, home, or other setting; and

whether they can sustain provision to support the bereaved, where required, in

light o their other community responsibilities (e.g. supporting local social care

services) and, i so, what alternative sources o support might be ound.


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Section 4

Planning guidance or aith communities

Faith communities oer a wide range o services to the public and as such are rightly

regarded as a crucial resource to engage with in civil resilience. There are several good

reasons or this including a wide network across the UK, a ready network o volunteers and

experience with dealing with people at difcult times.

Given the ar reaching consequences o a pandemic it is essential that aith communities

are ully engaged in multi agency pandemic inuenza planning in order to ensure that

these resources are protected and, i possible, utilised during a response to ensure that the

UK public are oered as much support as is reasonably possible.

With this in mind a staged planning process is recommended (to be carried out with

partners within your local resilience orum):

Step 1

Protecting your aith community prior to the onset o the pandemic and inresponse to the pandemic by raising awareness through the dissemination o key

messages.

Step 2Planning or the continuity o core activities considered to be essential within

your aith community.

Step 3Planning to be able to cope with an increased demand or some services as a

result o the unique circumstances surrounding a pandemic.

Step 4Planning to be able to acilitate the response to the pandemic and potential new

demands resulting directly rom a pandemic.


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Section 4 Planning guidance or aith communities | 19

4.1 Step 1 Protecting your aith community

During a pandemic, applying good respiratory and hand hygiene practices and

encouraging compliance with public health advice are likely to make the most important

contribution to the UKs overall response. Good respiratory and hand hygiene practices, or

example, will play an important role in slowing the spread o a pandemic, whether people

are attending work, socialising, travelling on public transport or using public places.

In order to protect others and reduce the spread o inection, anyone with symptoms

consistent with an inuenza-like illness (ILI) should stay at home and minimise social/amily

contact until symptoms have resolved. They should only go out i absolutely necessary.

Those who do not have symptoms consistent with an ILI should continue normal activities

or as long and as ar as that is possible. They can reduce but not eliminate the risk ocatching or spreading inuenza by avoiding unnecessary close contact with those who

have symptoms consistent with an ILI and adopting high standards o respiratory and hand

hygiene at all times.

Simple measures will help individuals to protect themselves and others. The necessary

measures include:

Use a tissue to cover your nose and mouth when coughing and/or sneezing.

Dispose o the tissue promptly and then wash your hands. Tissues should be

disposed o in domestic waste and do not require any special treatment. Do

not use handkerchies or reuse tissues. This practice contaminates pockets or

handbags which will recontaminate hands every time they go into those pockets

or handbags.

Clean hands requently with soap and water, especially ater coughing, sneezing,

and using tissues. Soap and water is an eective means o cleaning hands,

however handrubs (microbicidal handrubs, particularly alcohol-based) can be

used as an alternative.

Minimise touching your mouth, eyes and/or nose, unless you have recently

cleaned your hands.

Clean suraces requently touched by hands; normal household detergent and

water will be adequate or this.

Clean your hands as soon as you arrive home.


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With this in mind, aith communities should consider the ollowing in advance o

a pandemic:

Ensure that adequate supplies o cleaning materials are readily available (or, i you

contract others to provide cleaning services, check that they have contingency

plans) and that there are procedures or regular cleaning o hard suraces.

Ensure that hand hygiene acilities are adequate and working properly; i/when

updating or repairing acilities, consider installing automatic or oot-operated

taps, dryers and waste bins. Ensure that you have stocks o tissues, paper towels

and soaps.

Consider how you might use hand cleansers 6, or example at the entrances to

rooms or sites without hand-washing acilities.

Check that you have procedures or isolating (with appropriate supervision)

anyone who alls ill within a aiths setting.

Ensure that your communities are all aware o the relevant procedures that will

be put in place during a pandemic and o the inection control guidance below.

In addition, the ollowing specifc inection control measures should be ollowed by aith

communities during a pandemic:

I you are blessing or anointing someone who has u (e.g. with oil) or laying

hands on them, you should wash your hands immediately aterwards.

In a pandemic, sharing o common vessels or ood and drink should cease. For

example, the sharing o cups or Christian Communion or Eucharist, and the

tradition o Langar in the Sikh religion or the ree vegetarian-only ood served in

a Gudwara.

In a pandemic, situations where a aith leader may cross-contaminate others

should cease, e.g. communion on the tongue may inect the priests fngers.

Remind parents and carers that children displaying u symptoms should stay

at home.

Those living and working in religious residential establishments will ace particular inection

control issues relating to preventing the spread o pandemic u. The spread o the virus to

healthy residents should be minimised by introducing strict inection control measures.

6 The term hand cleansers is used in this guidance or a range o cleansers and sanitisers available as gels, handrubs, wipes and sprays.You should ollow the manuacturers guidance on the use o such materials.


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4.2 Step 2 Planning or the continuity o core activities

An inuenza pandemic is likely to result in signifcant increases in the levels o absenteeism

within all organisations. Modelling suggests that organisations employing large numbers

o people, with exibility o sta redeployment, should ensure that their plans are capable

o handling sta absence rates o up to 15-20 per cent (in addition to usual absenteeism

levels). Small organisations, or larger organisations with small critical teams, should

plan or level o absence rising to 30-35 per cent at peak, perhaps higher or very small

organisations with only a handul o employees.

It is thereore important that aith communities prepare business continuity plans

which will enable them to maintain the continuity o critical core activities. This includes

identiying core activities i.e. those upon which society is most dependent and otheractivities which are less critical and could thereore be curtailed.

You may also wish to consider novel ways o reaching your aith community which will

reduce the levels o resources required. For example, newsletters, tapes and CDs or the

Internet may be utilised to keep people in touch with their aith.

The Cabinet Ofce has produced a detailed checklist or businesses7 specifcally relating to

pandemic inuenza. It identifes important and specifc activities which organisations can

do to prepare or a pandemic. Annex A o this document also provides business continuity

planning guidelines.

4.3 Step 3 Planning to be able to cope with an increaseddemand or some services

In addition to maintaining delivery o core activities, aith communities should also plan

on the basis o an increased demand or specifc services. For example, it is very likely that

during a pandemic aith leaders will ace increased calls to visit ill, dying and bereaved

people at home and in hospitals. It is very unlikely in the worse case scenarios that this willbe manageable within existing resources. It is thereore advisable to start planning or how

you might cope with this increased demand. Other organisations have made appropriate

arrangements in their u plans to help them deliver their services, e.g. by extending use o

volunteers and by prioritising essential activities.

You will also need to think about the act that your community is likely to be aected by

bereavement. In addition to planning with other local stakeholders or higher than usual

levels o uneral services, plans should take into account that people including workers and

ministers may be bereaved. Ensuring that care is provided or everyone who is bereaved will

be important.

7 http://www.cabinetofce.gov.uk/media/132464/060516ubcpchecklist.pd


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Section 4 Planning guidance or aith communities | 23

4.4 Step 4 Planning to be able to acilitate the response tothe pandemic and potential new demands

Faith leaders and their communities are regarded as a critical resource to the response

to a pandemic. They are likely to be able to acilitate some aspects o the response to a

pandemic. With this in mind, consideration should be given to:

Faith communities, through their leaders, can reach vulnerable populations

which emergency planners may not be able to (e.g. reugees and asylum

seekers may attend religious services and events but not be known to statutory

authorities). It is important that all groups are made aware o guidance being

issued by central government, including essential inection control messages and

how to access the relevant medical countermeasures.

You will need to think about care or members o your amily and community

who are ill who visits them and how they are trained in inection control.

Visiting people could help monitor those who are ill when statutory services

are stretched.

You could encourage and even organise members o your congregation to

be Flu Friends to collect antivirals, essential supplies and ood or those in the

community that are unable to do so themselves.

Faith leaders can also help to explain to their communities the rationale ogovernment decisions to deal with a pandemic including those potentially

contentious issues. By doing so, social tensions are likely to be reduced.

You should approach your Local Resilience Forum 8 to oer help i you eel you

can do any o the tasks covered in this guidance. You can contact them through

your local Emergency Planning Ofcer (Local Authority) or through the Director

o Public Health at the Primary Care Trust (England) or Local Health Board (Wales).

It is important to bear in mind that, while the measures detailed in the guidance

will be necessary in the event o a pandemic, they will be discontinued as soon as

it is clinically sae to do so, post pandemic.

8 The Local Resilience Forum is body responsible or the coordination o multi-agency emergency planning at the local level. Itsmembership includes all emergency services, local authorities and health bodies/authorities.


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Annex A

Checklist or aith communities

There are many things you can do. This checklist should be read in conjunction with the

generic business continuity checklist available at www.ukresilience.gov.uk/pandemic

1. Plan or the impact o a pandemic on your organisation and its mission:

Assign someone with the authority to develop, maintain and deliver

an inuenza pandemic preparedness and response plan or your aithcommunity.

Determine the potential impact o a pandemic on your organisations usualactivities and services. (e.g. how many will be ill and will reduced numbers opeople o ill aect worship? How will you continue the community groupswhich meet in your buildings? I you run care services, how will they ensurethey can deliver essential services?)

Plan or situations likely to require increasing, decreasing or altering theservices your organisation delivers. Work out what is essential and what youcan stop doing during a pandemic, e.g. some aith leaders may choose to

ocus on deploying scarce resources on maintaining worship services. Othersmay instead concentrate on making visits to comort the sick and bereaved.

Determine the potential impact o a pandemic on outside resources thatyour organisation depends on to deliver its services (e.g., your bank, buildingsuppliers, other supplies like paper, ood, and travel etc.)

How will you cope i these services ace problems?

Outline what the organisational structure will be during an emergency andrevise periodically. The outline should identiy key contacts with multipleback-ups in case people become ill. Identiy roles and responsibilities, andwho is supposed to report to whom, e.g. it may be possible or aith leadersto work across geographical borders to help neighbouring leaders in harderhit areas.

Identiy and train essential sta (including ull-time, part-time and unpaidor volunteer sta) needed to carry on your organisations work during apandemic. Include back up plans, cross-train sta in other jobs so that i staare sick, others are ready to come in to carry on the work.

Test your plan using an exercise or drill, and review and revise your planas needed.


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Annex A Checklist or aith communities | 25

2. Communicate with and educate your leaders, members, and persons in thecommunities that you serve:

Find up-to-date, reliable pandemic inormation and other inormationrom your Local Resilience Forum or the Health Protection Agency(www.hpa.org.uk).

Make this inormation available to your organisation and others. Placearticles in your newsletter and posters on notice boards.

Distribute materials with basic inormation about pandemic inuenza,especially this booklet and how to prevent inection spreading.

When appropriate, include basic inormation about pandemic inuenza inpublic meetings (e.g. sermons, scripture study or other classes, trainings,

small group meetings and announcements).

Share inormation about your pandemic preparedness and response planwith sta and people in the communities that you serve.

Have a one page version or members o your community. Develop leaets/yers and put inormation on your website including links to the sites listedin Section 4 below. Consider a pre-recorded message on an answer-phoneor people who cannot read.

Ensure that what you communicate is appropriate or the cultures,languages and reading levels o your sta, members, and persons in the

communities that you serve.

Inormation is available in a range o languages rom websites atSection 4 below.

Consider how your organisation can stop panic, increase morale in thecommunity and correct misinormation.

It might be possible to use the means listed above. How will you showleadership in this?

3. Plan or the impact o a pandemic on your sta, members, and the

communities that you serve:Plan or sta absences during a pandemic due to personal and/or amilyillnesses, and school, business, and public transport closures.

Sta may include ull-time, part-time and volunteer workers.

Identiy people with special needs (e.g. elderly, disabled, housebound,limited English speakers) and be sure to include their needs in your plan.

Establish relationships with them in advance so they will expect and trustyour presence during a crisis.


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4. Set up policies to ollow during a pandemic:

Ensure you have a policy which covers sick leave or workers and those they

care or (e.g. sick amily members) during a pandemic.Ensure that everyone paid and unpaid workers and members o yourcongregation understands that i they become ill they should remain athome until their symptoms resolve and they are physically ready to return toduty. They should ollow the advice that the Department o Health and NHSwill give about who to contact or help.

People who become ill at work should be sent home.

Work out what you can do to help the community in a pandemic. You maybe able to oer volunteers to pick up antivirals or those not able to do so

themselves, sta a helpline or do other practical tasks. Contact your LocalResilience Forum or the NHS Primary Care Trust/Local Health Board to see iyou can help out in these areas or in other ways.

Work with the Local Resilience Forum to make sure any volunteers youoer to help the community are appropriately screened and checkedbeore training.

Work with them in advance. When a pandemic starts it may well be too lateto help.

Work with Social Services, other aith organisations and other communities

to ensure your volunteers are properly trained or helping in any pandemic.Ensure any agreement you reach is written down in an easily understoodplan (it could be a section o your Local Resilience Forums Pandemic Flu Plan)Make sure the key people have a copy o it (e.g. local authority, NHS, yoursta and team, etc.)

Share what youve learned rom developing your preparedness with otherFaith- Based and Community Organisations to improve communityresponse eorts.

Be clear how you will activate your organisations response plan when an

inuenza pandemic is declared.

Also be clear about who will trigger your organisations support or thecommunity, and how.


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Annex B Key Documents | 27

Annex B

Key Documents

UK Resilience website

www.cabinetofce.gov.uk/ukresilience.aspx

Department o Health website on Pandemic Flu

www.dh.gov.uk/en/PandemicFlu/index.htm

Health Protection Agency website on Pandemic Fluwww.hpa.org.uk/inections/topics_az/inuenza/pandemic/deault.htm

Inormation or Employers on Pandemic Flu

www.hse.gov.uk/biosaety/diseases/pandemic.htm

Inormation on Committee on Ethical Aspects o Pandemic Inuenza (CEAPI)

www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Flu/PandemicFlu/DH_065163

A checklist or pastoral planning or a u pandemic

www.lancasterrcdiocese.org.uk/bishop/checklist.pd

A pastoral plan or a u pandemic

www.lancasterrcdiocese.org.uk/bishop/Pastoral_planning_or_a_u_pandemic_

RevNickDonnelly.pd

The Needs o Faith Communities in Major Emergencies

http://security.homeofce.gov.uk/news-publications/publication-search/

guidance-disasters/aith-communities
http://www.lancasterrcdiocese.org.uk/bishop/Pastoral_planning_for_a_flu_pandemic_http://www.lancasterrcdiocese.org.uk/bishop/Pastoral_planning_for_a_flu_pandemic_http://www.lancasterrcdiocese.org.uk/bishop/Pastoral_planning_for_a_flu_pandemic_http://www.security.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-publications/publication-search/http://www.security.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-publications/publication-search/http://www.lancasterrcdiocese.org.uk/bishop/Pastoral_planning_for_a_flu_pandemic_http://www.security.homeoffice.gov.uk/news-publications/publication-search/


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