Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE45250
2009-05-04 23:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:
MANAGING CONSULAR PUBLIC ACCESS AND CONTACT
how-toVZCZCXRO6017 OO RUEHAG RUEHAO RUEHAP RUEHAST RUEHAT RUEHBC RUEHBI RUEHBL RUEHBZ RUEHCD RUEHCHI RUEHCI RUEHCN RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHDH RUEHDT RUEHDU RUEHED RUEHEL RUEHFK RUEHFL RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHGH RUEHGI RUEHGR RUEHHA RUEHHM RUEHHO RUEHHT RUEHIHL RUEHIK RUEHJS RUEHKN RUEHKR RUEHKSO RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHMA RUEHMC RUEHMJ RUEHMR RUEHMRE RUEHMT RUEHNAG RUEHNG RUEHNH RUEHNL RUEHNP RUEHNZ RUEHPA RUEHPB RUEHPD RUEHPOD RUEHPT RUEHPW RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRN RUEHROV RUEHRS RUEHSK RUEHTM RUEHTRO RUEHVC RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHC #5250 1250004 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 042343Z MAY 09 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI 7130 INFO RUESBKC/ATO ASIA IMMEDIATE 1859 RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHPH/CDC ATLANTA IMMEDIATE 7510 RUCPDOC/ALL USDOC DISTDIR COLLECTIVE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMCSUU/CDRAMC FT BELVOIR VA//AMCMI-SS// IMMEDIATE RUEAHQA/HQ USAF WASHINGTON DC//XOXXI// IMMEDIATE RHMCSUU/HQ AFOSI DOQ ANDREWS AFB MD//IVOA// IMMEDIATE RHMCSUU/FAA NATIONAL HQ WASHINGTON DC//ACI-400// IMMEDIATE RHMFIUU/NRC WASHINGTON DC//INFOSEC// IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2-JIT// IMMEDIATE RUCPCIM/CIM NTDB WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMCSUU/COGARD INTELCOORDCEN WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS STATE 045250
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC CVIS CMGT KFLU
SUBJECT: MANAGING CONSULAR PUBLIC ACCESS AND CONTACT
During Influenza Outbreaks
REF: State 00043249
UNCLAS STATE 045250
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC CVIS CMGT KFLU
SUBJECT: MANAGING CONSULAR PUBLIC ACCESS AND CONTACT
During Influenza Outbreaks
REF: State 00043249
1. SUMMARY: This cable provides guidance for
Consular Section Chiefs on managing public access and
close contact during the current outbreak of H1N1
Influenza A, as well as during any future flu outbreaks
and large-scale public health events. As with all
health-related issues, local and Departmental public
health guidelines prevail. Posts should consult with
their Foreign Service Health Practitioner (FSHP) and
local public health officials to ensure their guidance to
the public is in line with expert opinions. END SUMMARY.
2. Public Access: Social distancing is the buzzword
during any flu outbreak. Posts should use all possible
means - Warden Messages, Embassy website, information
boards at the Embassy entrance, etc. - to request that
all persons who require non-emergency consular services
and who feel unwell or exhibit flu-like symptoms postpone
their business with the consular section. The notices
should provide information on appointment rescheduling
procedures and assure the public that appointments will
be rescheduled as soon as the situation permits, and at
no cost to the applicant. During severe outbreaks, Post
should consider temporarily suspending all non-emergency
consular operations to reduce the flow of possibly
infected customers into the consular waiting area.
3. Screening Visitors: Posts should consult with their
FSHP regarding instituting a screening plan for customers
who appear for consular services. Front-line consular
personnel - greeters, data intake clerks, etc. - should
be briefed and watch for symptoms. Persons exhibiting
flu-like symptoms should be instructed to postpone their
appointments until their health improves.
4. Prison Visits: ACS Units should consider
rescheduling or postponing prison visits. If possible,
conduct routine prison visits of long-term prisoners by
phone when local conditions permit. In all cases, Post
should consult with local prison officials regarding
conditions at the prison, and when physical visits are
necessary, take all appropriate precautions.
5. Hospital Visits: ACS Units are likely to receive
requests for visits from sick Amcits or their families
during large-scale public health events. Hospital visits
are often not possible even during normal times because
of resource constraints, and during an influenza outbreak
or pandemic hospitals will strictly limit access to
patients. Consular officers should use their usual tact
and sensitivity to explain this reality to callers.
6. Emergency Services: When all else fails and close
contact with the public cannot be postponed or avoided,
please follow all public guidance for flu avoidance
available on http://www.cdc.gov.
7. Minimize considered.
CLINTON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CASC CVIS CMGT KFLU
SUBJECT: MANAGING CONSULAR PUBLIC ACCESS AND CONTACT
During Influenza Outbreaks
REF: State 00043249
1. SUMMARY: This cable provides guidance for
Consular Section Chiefs on managing public access and
close contact during the current outbreak of H1N1
Influenza A, as well as during any future flu outbreaks
and large-scale public health events. As with all
health-related issues, local and Departmental public
health guidelines prevail. Posts should consult with
their Foreign Service Health Practitioner (FSHP) and
local public health officials to ensure their guidance to
the public is in line with expert opinions. END SUMMARY.
2. Public Access: Social distancing is the buzzword
during any flu outbreak. Posts should use all possible
means - Warden Messages, Embassy website, information
boards at the Embassy entrance, etc. - to request that
all persons who require non-emergency consular services
and who feel unwell or exhibit flu-like symptoms postpone
their business with the consular section. The notices
should provide information on appointment rescheduling
procedures and assure the public that appointments will
be rescheduled as soon as the situation permits, and at
no cost to the applicant. During severe outbreaks, Post
should consider temporarily suspending all non-emergency
consular operations to reduce the flow of possibly
infected customers into the consular waiting area.
3. Screening Visitors: Posts should consult with their
FSHP regarding instituting a screening plan for customers
who appear for consular services. Front-line consular
personnel - greeters, data intake clerks, etc. - should
be briefed and watch for symptoms. Persons exhibiting
flu-like symptoms should be instructed to postpone their
appointments until their health improves.
4. Prison Visits: ACS Units should consider
rescheduling or postponing prison visits. If possible,
conduct routine prison visits of long-term prisoners by
phone when local conditions permit. In all cases, Post
should consult with local prison officials regarding
conditions at the prison, and when physical visits are
necessary, take all appropriate precautions.
5. Hospital Visits: ACS Units are likely to receive
requests for visits from sick Amcits or their families
during large-scale public health events. Hospital visits
are often not possible even during normal times because
of resource constraints, and during an influenza outbreak
or pandemic hospitals will strictly limit access to
patients. Consular officers should use their usual tact
and sensitivity to explain this reality to callers.
6. Emergency Services: When all else fails and close
contact with the public cannot be postponed or avoided,
please follow all public guidance for flu avoidance
available on http://www.cdc.gov.
7. Minimize considered.
CLINTON