Understanding I & Q

Isolation and quarantine are terms that are largely unfamiliar to the general public, media and even many community leaders. Use of these strategies on a large scale would require a targeted education effort to help the public understand and accept isolation and quarantine as necessary, temporary health measures.

Sometimes it helps to include a concrete example for illustration. We have included a brief scenario of the Toronto SARS Outbreak to assist with communication planning.

KNOWING YOUR AUDIENCE

When thinking about risk communications planning, the focus is generally falls on the media and the general public. It is important to expand planning and messaging to include more than just those two primary audiences. We have identified key audiences that will require communication in the event of an I & Q circumstance.

Internal Audiences

  1. Leadership team staff
  2. Response team staff
  3. Response team leads
  4. All department staff

External Audiences

  1. Community partners
  2. General population
  3. Vulnerable populations
  4. Media
  5. Elected officials
  6. Local business/industry