Scenario 3.1 – Relevant Health Authority has publicly commented about the situation

In the event the relevant Health Authority has made public comment about your facility’s situation, your facility may receive media inquiries. In this scenario the following is recommended:

1. Provide all staff with clear guidelines on how to respond to media inquiries and who to direct them to within your organisation. - Refer below for suggested scripts for staff in dealing with media inquiries.
2. Do not make any comment to media until the following has occurred;

i. Confirm the relevant Health Authority has made a public statement.

ii. Reach out to AMIC to discuss if/how a statement should be made and by who (the facility or other?).

3. Share statement with staff via internal staff communications, immediately before releasing statement to media. i. It’s always important to let your staff know what’s going on, rather than them hearing from somewhere else, like the media. ii. Where appropriate, the communications to staff should take the opportunity to reiterate key messages around the industry’ strong processes and procedures in response to COVID-19, the strength of the industry, and the importance of everyone continuing to follow the recommended COVID-19 health steps (refer to AMPC for further information about key messages)

4. Provide statement/comment to media.

iii. Where appropriate, the statement to media should take the opportunity to reiterate key messages around the industry’s strong processes and procedures in response to COVID-19 (refer to AMPC for further information about key messages).