Information from the Winnebago County Health Department
Winnebago County Public Health Department
COVID-19 Updates for Healthcare Providers & First Responders
March 26, 2020
Please distribute widely. The format may be altered when forwarded in an email. Find a shareable link here.
REVISED COVID-19 Patient Information Form - When submitting specimens to the WSLH and MHDL, this Patient Information Form must be accompanied by the appropriate requisition form
Patient is critically ill and receiving ICU level care with unexplained viral pneumonia or respiratory failure
Patients who are residents of long-term care facilities or other high consequence congregate settings (e.g. prisons or jails), with unexplained fever OR signs/symptoms of acute respiratory illness.
Post-mortem testing for people who died of unknown causes, if COVID-19 testing would influence infection control interventions or inform a public health response
Tier Two:
Hospitalized (non-ICU) patients with unexplained fever AND signs/symptoms of acute respiratory illness
Health care workers or first responders with unexplained fever AND signs/symptoms of acute respiratory illness, regardless of hospitalization
Essential staff in high consequence congregate settings (e.g. correctional officers) with unexplained fever AND signs/symptoms of acute respiratory illness, regardless of hospitalization
Tier Three:
Patient is in an outpatient setting and meets criteria for influenza testing. This includes individuals with co-morbid conditions including diabetes, COPD, congestive heart failure, age >50, immunocompromised hosts among others
Health care workers with acute respiratory symptoms (e.g. rhinorrhea, congestion, sore throat, cough) without fever
Tier Four:
Other patients, as directed by public health or infection control authorities (e.g. community surveillance or public health investigations)
Do NOT Test:
Patients without symptoms
Patients with mild upper respiratory symptoms only who are not health care workers
Gov. Evers Launches PPE Program: The initiative is designed to get more PPE to the frontlines. Companies, schools, and other organizations can go to https://covid19supplies.wi.gov/Donations to donate or sell large quantities of unused PPE to the State of Wisconsin. The SEOC will then distribute to communities that need it the most. First responders and other non-medical organizations should communicate their PPE needs to their county or tribal emergency management office, which will then forward those requests to the SEOC. Medical facilities, including hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and clinics, should continue using the established process for requesting supplies from the Strategic National Stockpile.
DHS issued updated recommendations for health care and public health partners related to evaluating and testing patients with respiratory symptoms for COVID-19
Completing a CRF and Specimen Guidance - instructions for completing a supplemental guidance regarding specimen collection, storage and shipping to CDC laboratories.
