Recovery, Renewal, Resilience

Lessons for Resilience

Consider how whistleblowing apps can allow the public to report COVID-19 breaches
Topic:
Governance
Keywords:
Strategic communications
Content:

There have been well-documented breaches of the COVID-19 rules in, for example, workplaces, shops, public spaces. This has caused frustration and resentment, and made front-line staff question their perceived value and sacrifice. Current enforcement of the rules is led by the authorities, but there is potential for the public to report breaches via whistleblowing apps, which may help to target official enforcement activities. Consider:

  • The potential to establish a whistleblowing app to collect information from the public on COVID-19 breaches
  • Who should initiate and own an app to allow the public to report COVID-19 breaches, including the potential hesitation the public may have to report via Police websites
  • Whether reports will be made anonymously by the public
  • How to address and mitigate the potential for malicious or bogus reports
  • What thresholds need to be met before action is taken
  • How to analyse app data to identify patterns and trends of where, when and what breaches occur
  • How to report back on subsequent enforcement actions and outcomes to individual whistle-blowers and to the wider public
  • The need to increase capacity to engage, explain and encourage compliance by, for example, staff, trained volunteers, neighbourhood watch, local organisations (see COVID Marshals TMB Issue 28 (hyper) January 22nd)
  • How to raise public awareness of whistleblowing apps to ensure that a lack of public awareness does not hinder their effectiveness
Source link(s):
Consider the information communities need in relation to restrictions on their movement
Topic:
Governance
Keywords:
Strategic communications
Content:

Local government should advise that, for some populations, it will not be possible to ease restrictions on their movement outside of the home until:

  • an effective vaccine is developed
  • an effective treatment is developed
  • community-wide immunity is achieved to reduce the risk to acceptable levels for all groups

These individuals will require protection that includes isolation and will need a blend of national and community-based programs. For example:

  • Delivery of food and medicine
  • Provision of a specialized medical care environment
  • Social support
  • Financial assistance e.g. for basic living expenses
Source link(s):