CIVIL servants have been asked to volunteer for the Department of Health's Emergency Operations Centre, as Stormont steps up its response to the coronavirus.
In a letter to all Department of Health staff, chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride asked civil servants to work in the centre, which was set up late last month.
The centre, initially manned by eight staff, was established to carry out surveillance and liaise with the Department of Health and six health trusts as well as counterparts in the UK and the Republic in tackling the global outbreak.
Dr McBride wrote to staff in the department earlier this month asking them to consider volunteering to work in the centre.
He said volunteers from staff officer and deputy principal grades would be particularly welcome.
"This is a unique opportunity for staff to develop skills, by working in a fast-paced environment, which have the potential to apply to broader areas of work," he wrote.
He said volunteers will be involved in "supporting staff at meetings, including recording decisions and actions; disseminating a range of information to appropriate officials for information and/or action; and ensuring that key information and data on the current situation is always available in order to inform the strategic decision-making process".
Dr McBride said the roles undertaken will be appropriate to the civil servant's present grade and "will be regularly rotated".
Civil servants were due to put their names forward by Wednesday.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said the centre "plays an important role" in its approach to tackle the coronavirus.
"The EOC has a team of approximately eight full time staff experienced in emergency planning with specialists in other areas including health protection providing expertise as and when required," she said.
"Resourcing within the EOC remains under review."
