Mar
03

COVID-19 Update: From the Secretary: Executive team in place

I am writing to let you know that Smithsonian leadership is actively engaged in monitoring and planning for a potential Coronavirus (COVID-19) impact on our staff, visitors, and operations. To that end, and per SD-109 Smithsonian Emergency Management Program, I have appointed an SI Coordinating Officer (SCO) and supporting core team to lead our COVID-19 response.

  • Smithsonian Coordinating Officer: Doug Hall, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Finance and Administration
  • Deputy Smithsonian Coordinating Officer: Rich Wright, Director, Office of Safety, Health and Environmental Management
  • Public Health Officer: Anne McDonough MD MPH, Associate Director, Office of Occupational Health
  • Deputy Public Health Officer: Victoria Hall DVM MS, Veterinary Epidemiologist
  • EOC Operations Section Lead: Eric Gentry, Director, Office of Emergency Management

This team will be working, through the emergency management operations structure, to plan any necessary response and communicate information both to unit leadership and to all SI staff. Every Thursday morning, starting this week, this team will be meeting with the Emergency Operations Group to provide updates, answer questions, and provide SI-wide guidance. This will be followed by an SI Wide Announcement to all staff on every Thursday afternoon until the emergency is over.

We realize that there are many unknowns about COVID-19, and you all may have questions.  In addition to the weekly announcements we will be creating an SI resource account for any questions you may have and developing informational pages for Prism. These tools will be available soon.

The Center for Disease Control recently put out a personal preparation guide for individuals. We encourage you to reference this guide and do what you can now to be ready.

I want you to know that we will continue to keep you updated and encourage you to review the resources outlined above frequently. As we assess and monitor how COVID-19 is impacting the country we will continue to share changes, updates and guidance.

Sincerely,

Lonnie G. Bunch
Secretary

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Posted: 3 March 2020
About the Author:

Lonnie G. Bunch III is the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. He was the founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and is the first historian to be Secretary of the Institution.