Planning for H1N1 at Marine Atlantic
Marine Atlantic is committed to providing the safest possible environment for customers and employees. We have planned for the onset of the H1N1 flu virus, are monitoring the potential and actual impacts of the H1N1 situation on our service and its stakeholders.
Marine Atlantic’s Plan
Our goals are to optimize protection of our passengers, our employees, and our assets; to minimize disruptions to our services; and to return to a normal state of activity as quickly as possible.
We are monitoring this situation in conjunction with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, Transport Canada, and the Public Health Agency of Canada, and keeping abreast of the H1N1 emergency management activities at other transportation providers across Canada. We are also obtaining guidance from our medical advisor, Atlantic Offshore Medical Services.
Internally, we created a Pandemic Planning Committee (PPC) and Pandemic Task Force (PTF) to increase our state of preparedness and to minimize the effects of pandemic influenza on our employees, their families, our customers, and our ferry service which provides an essential transportation link to and from the Island of Newfoundland.
We are recommending in accordance with the Public Health Agency of Canada, that any customer exhibiting influenza like illness symptoms delay their travels. For travel guidance, please refer to the Public Health Agency of Canada’s website (http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/media/nr-rp/2009/2009_1028-eng.php). To make the changing of your travel plans as simple as possible we will waive reservation change fees for customers holding confirmed reservations on our ferries. The waiving of change fees will remain in effect while Marine Atlantic is operating at an elevated pandemic response level
Customers who are not are not displaying any influenza like illness symptoms; we ask that you take personal precautions to minimize the spread of the virus, including:
- cover the nose and mouth by sneezing or /coughing into the elbow joint or into a clean tissue;
- avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth;
- frequently wash hands with soap and hot water or a sanitizer gel;
- if using tissues dispose of them in garbage after one use; and
- avoid touching or shaking the hand of an infected person and then touching your mouth, eyes or nose without first washing your hands.
- if you are experiencing influenza-like illness (ILI) it is recommended that you delay travel and/or stay home.
Hand sanitizers are available in our terminals and on board for your use. Please use them frequently, and especially prior to using any of the food services available.
If you begin exhibiting symptoms during the course of your travel, please advise a Marine Atlantic employee immediately. We appreciate your cooperation as we strive to provide a healthy and safe ferry service.
Pandemic Response Levels
Marine Atlantic’s Pandemic Plan is divided into four levels of response. The first level (Green) corresponds with the WHO Pandemic Phase 6 and focuses on education and preventative actions. Pandemic Level Two (Yellow) is reached when 1-5 percent of employees are ill at the same time during the pandemic. Pandemic Level Three (Orange) is reached when 6 to 35 per cent of employees are ill at the same time, and Pandemic Level 4 (Red) when greater than 35 per cent of employees are ill at the same time during a pandemic.
