(a) The Commission shall, by October 3, 2002, deliver to the Governor a plan for responding to a public health emergency that includes provisions for the following:

(1) A means of notifying and communicating with the population during a state of public health emergency in compliance with this subchapter, including a plan that ensures that 90% of the population is covered by a health alert network;

(2) Centralized coordination of resources, manpower and services, including coordination of responses by state, local, and federal agencies;

(3) The location, procurement, storage, transportation, maintenance and distribution of essential materials, including medical supplies, drugs, vaccines, food, shelter and beds, including a plan (with identified personnel to be trained) to receive and distribute critical stockpile items and manage a mass distribution of vaccine and/or antibiotics on a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week basis;

(4) The continued, effective operation of the judicial system including, if deemed necessary, the identification and training of personnel to serve as emergency judges regarding matters of isolation and quarantine as described in this subchapter;

(5) The method of evacuating populations and housing and feeding the evacuated populations;

(6) The identification and training of health care providers to diagnose and treat persons with infectious diseases, including a review of statutes, regulations and ordinances that provide for credentialing, licensure and delegation of authority for executing emergency public health measures;

(7) Guidelines for the vaccination of persons in compliance with the provisions of this subchapter;

(8) Guidelines for the treatment of persons who have been exposed to or who are infected with diseases or health conditions caused by bioterrorism, epidemic or pandemic disease, or novel and highly fatal infectious agents or biological toxins that pose a substantial risk of a significant number of fatalities or incidents of permanent or long-term disability. The guidelines should cover, but not be limited to, the following diseases: anthrax, botulism, smallpox, plague, tularemia and viral hemorrhagic fevers;

(9) Guidelines for the safe disposal of human remains, in compliance with the provisions of this subchapter;

(10) Guidelines for the safe disposal of infectious waste, in compliance with the provisions of this subchapter;

(11) Guidelines for the safe and effective management of persons isolated, quarantined, vaccinated or treated during a state of public health emergency;

(12) Tracking the source and outcomes of infected persons, including a plan to receive and evaluate urgent disease reports from all parts of the State on a 24 hour a day, 7 days a week basis;

(13) Ensuring that each county and city within the State identifies the following:

a. Sites where persons can be isolated or quarantined, with such sites complying with the provisions of this subchapter regarding the least restrictive means for isolation and quarantine and the requirements for the safety, health and maintenance of personal dignity of those isolated or quarantined;

b. Sites where medical supplies, food and other essentials can be distributed to the population;

c. Sites where emergency workers can be housed and fed;

d. Routes and means of transportation of people and materials;

(14) Coordination with other states and the federal government;

(15) Taking into account cultural norms, values and traditions that may be relevant;

(16) Distribution of this plan and guidelines to those who will be responsible for implementing the plan;

(17) Development of a plan to improve working relationships and communications between Level A (clinical) and Level B/C laboratories (i.e., Laboratory Response Network laboratories) as well as other public health officials;

(18) Development of a plan for communication systems that provide for a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week flow of critical health information between hospital emergency departments, state and local health officials, and law enforcement;

(19) Development of a plan to enhance risk communication and information dissemination to educate the public regarding exposure risks and effective public response;

(20) Locating and procuring all funds, if any, that are available to the State from every federal agency to assist the State in its preparation for a public health emergency; and

(21) Other measures necessary to carry out the purposes of this subchapter.

(b) The Commission shall review its plan for responding to a public health emergency every 2 years.

(c) The Commission’s plan shall serve as a statewide plan and a regional plan with respect to federal bioterrorism requirements.

(d) Persons responsible for implementing the Commission’s plan must receive appropriate and timely training, and the Commission’s plan must be tested on a regular basis.

(e) The Commission shall establish a hospital biopreparedness planning subcommittee, whose composition shall include representation from DEMA, the Department of Health and Social Services, the medical community and local emergency medical services.

73 Del. Laws, c. 355, § ?13;