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Given a global shortage of N95 respirator masks, Ottawa police will don their force-issued gas masks as protection should a call dictate officers could be exposed to the novel coronavirus, according to the deputy chief.

Ottawa police have continued to monitor what’s happening in countries and specific cities for weeks. The World Health Organization has declared a pandemic. City officials confirmed Ottawa’s first case of COVID-19 on Wednesday.

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Police say they will be taking instruction from Ottawa Public Health, who is leading the response to the public health issue. Police response will primarily be to help support public health officials, but as an emergency service, officers will also need to continue to provide policing in the city, which could put them into contact with people exhibiting symptoms of coronavirus or with confirmed cases.

Deputy Chief Steve Bell said the Ottawa Police Service has had pandemic plans in place for years and with every major outbreak, whether it be SARS or H1N1, that plan has been modified. In recent weeks, its’s been updated with details on how best to protect officers and the public from COVID-19. That plan also includes how to deal with the Ottawa police, as a workplace, should an employee become sick.