Many questions were raised about how the Otago Museum would deal with potential coronavirus risk issues, at a meeting of the museum’s governing board this week.
During a health and safety discussion, Otago Museum Trust Board members, including Gaynor Finch and Lee Vandervis, asked what plans had been made for dealing with the Covid-19 epidemic, should it reach Dunedin.
"What’s the museum policy on travel?" Mr Vandervis also asked.
Various scenarios were considered, including staff potentially becoming ill when undertaking overseas travel, and how the museum could be rendered safe for others by specialist cleaning if an infected person visited.
Museum director Dr Ian Griffin said that, under the museum’s policy, both he and board chairman Prof David Hutchinson had to approve any staff business travel, other than to Australia and New Zealand.
The museum was aware of the risks, including potentially limited insurance cover for bringing back any staff member who became sick abroad, Dr Griffin said.
Museum commercial director Murray Bayly said the museum was making further inquiries into the insurance situation.
Prof Hutchinson said the museum would be following closely any recommendations and advice by the Ministry of Health over coronavirus issues, and following ministry guidelines in assessing any proposed business travel beyond Australia and New Zealand.
The museum had organised health and safety training for new board members on Thursday morning, and the afternoon discussion was "just sensible", as part of the board’s required "due diligence" on health and safety issues, he said.
