Abstract
The Novel Coronavirus outbreak gave learning lesson to the entire world especially about how to fight with the invisible enemy. The scientific community is engaged in exploring the pathogenesis of this Novel disease and inventing the antivirals. At the same time, laboratory animal facility key personnel are busy in carrying out facility operations without compromising the laboratory animal welfare and on-going animal research. In general, every laboratory animal facility establishes the disaster management plan considering the possibility of fire, earthquake, cyclones or flood. Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC) Animal Facility also has well documented disaster plan in place. However, incorporation of preparedness plan against disaster due to pandemic was never thought of. However, with our extensive experience, great team efforts and timely decisions, we could continue facility operations without compromising animal welfare, on-going animal research and health of animal care personnel. It is the need of hour to make a preparedness plan in advance to respond to any kind of such pandemics in the future. We wish to share our experience gained during SARS-CoV-2 pandemics. This data is concerned about us but may be helpful to other animal facilities in India and/ or across the globe.
Highlights
The Novel Coronavirus outbreak gave learning lesson to the entire world especially about how to fight with the invisible enemy
Disaster may come in any form which test facility preparedness to tackle that particular situation
We are well prepared to tackle any kind of catastrophe, we never thought of including the response plan to tackle pandemic situation due to infectious agents like SARS-Cov-2 virus
Summary
Laboratory Animal Facility, ACTREC has disaster management plan in place to mitigate the effects of disasters like fire, flood or earthquake etc. Animal Facility have safeguarded majority of valuable strains by using assisted reproductive techniques (ART) like embryo and sperm cryopreservation. A nation- wide lockdown was declared by Government of India. This created a big challenge to all of us. Based on the circular of DoPT, ACTREC administration decided to cease the operations from all non-essential departments vide notification dated 25.03.2020. As soon as we received the notification from our Administration, we convened the urgent departmental meeting to discuss the strategies to carry out essential duties during the lockdown period. Our main agenda of the meeting was how to carry out day to day facility operations without compromising on animal welfare, on-going animal research and health of the personnels
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