November 17, 2009
The Public Health Agency of Canada provides H1N1 guidelines specifically designed for meeting planners, covering such areas as the importance of performing a pre-event risk assessment and mitigating the spread of an influence-like illness (ILI).
Event planners and other stakeholders should collaborate closely with local public health officials when planning events, notes the guidelines, taking into account local factors while conducting a risk assessment of the event.
Conducting a risk assessment will assist planners, stakeholders and local public health officials to determine if an event should be cancelled, modified, or postponed.
To help mitigate the spread of ILI during an event, public health officials can provide guidance to event organizers regarding the importance of providing information prior to the event (e.g. with event tickets, announcements on radio and TV, etc.) on:
- The signs and symptoms of ILI;
- The importance of attendees to stay home if ill with symptoms of ILI;
- The potential for the spread of ILI at such events; and proper hand hygiene, cough and sneeze etiquette.
For the full guidelines, click here and scroll down to Risk Assessment and Event Planning
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