Appendix D5: Preparedness Checklist for Community Containment Measures

Supplement D: Community Containment Measures, Including Non-Hospital Isolation and Quarantine

Public Health Guidance for Community-Level Preparedness and Response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Version 2/3

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General

• Establish an incident command structure that can be used for SARS response.
• Establish a legal preparedness plan.
• Establish relationships with partners, such as law enforcement, first responders, healthcare facilities, and the legal community.
• Plan to monitor and assess factors that will determine the types and levels of response, including the epidemiologic profile of the outbreak, available local resources, and level of public acceptance and participation.
• Develop communication strategies for the public, government decision makers, healthcare and emergency response providers, and the law enforcement community.

Management of cases and contacts (including quarantine)

• Develop protocols, tools, and databases for:
  • Case surveillance
  • Clinical evaluation and management
  • Contact tracing, monitoring, and management
  • Reporting criteria
• Develop standards and tools for home and non-hospital isolation and quarantine
• Establish supplies for non-hospital management of cases and contacts
• Establish a telecommunications plan for “hotlines” or other services for:
  • Case and contact monitoring and response
  • Fever triage
  • Public information
  • Provider information
• Plan to ensure provision of essential services and supplies to persons in isolation and quarantine, including:
  • Food and water
  • Shelter
  • Medicines and medical consultations
  • Mental health and psychological support services
  • Other supportive services (e.g., day care)
  • Transportation to medical treatment, if require
• Plan to address issues of financial support, job security, and prevention of stigmatization

Non-hospital-based isolation of cases

• Identify appropriate community-based facilities for isolation of patients who have no substantial healthcare requirements.
• Develop policies related to use of these facilities.
• Identify facilities for persons for whom home isolation is indicated but who do not have access to an appropriate home setting, such as travelers and homeless populations.
• Ensure that required procedures for assessment of potential isolation or quarantine sites are available and up to date.

Community containment measures

• Ensure that legal authorities and procedures are in place to implement the various levels of movement restrictions as necessary.
• Identify key partners and personnel for the implementation of movement restrictions, including quarantine, and the provision of essential services and supplies:
  • Law enforcement
  • First responders
  • Other government service workers
  • Utilities
  • Transportation industry
  • Local businesses
  • Schools and school boards
• Develop training programs and drills.
• Ensure fit-testing and training in PPE for responders and providers as necessary.
• Develop plans for the mobilization and deployment of public health and other community service personnel.