• WSLH Lab Snapshot taken from WSLH Laboratory Surveillance Report, April 13 (Data from week ending March 29-April 4)
• In Wisconsin, 12.3% of the 5,788 specimens tested positive by PCR at WSLH and clinical labs reporting testing data.
• Nationally, 14.6% of the 102,385 specimens tested positive by PCR at clinical, commercial and public health labs.
• SARS-CoV-2 was the pre-dominant respiratory pathogen reported in Wisconsin.
• Influenza A and RSV activities are decreasing.

• Guidance for Providers utilizing WSLH or Milwaukee Public Health Lab:
• While availability has expanded in recent weeks and is anticipated to continue to improve, both nationally and within Wisconsin, shortages of supplies and access to testing is still a reality. Because of this, Wisconsin’s two public health labs testing for COVID-19, the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH) and Milwaukee Health Department Laboratory (MHDL), have worked with DHS to develop a priority list for public health lab testing for COVID-19. Providers may send specimens to WSLH or MHDL only if they meet Wisconsin public health laboratory testing priorities listed below:
• Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 symptoms
• Patients with COVID-19 symptoms for whom rapid diagnosis is needed to inform infection control practices (e.g., labor and delivery, dialysis, aerosol-generating procedures, etc.)
• Residents of a long-term care facility with COVID-19 symptoms
• Residents in a jail, prison or other congregate setting with COVID-19 symptoms
• Health care workers or first responders (e.g., fire, EMS, police) with COVID-19 symptoms
• Essential staff in high-consequence congregate settings (e.g., prisons or jails) with COVID-19 symptoms
• The Wisconsin Patient Information Form replaced the CDC PUI form and MUST accompany the lab requisition form for specimens submitted to WSLH or MHDL.
• Wisconsin DHS and CDC continue to recommend not testing asymptomatic individuals for COVID-19 who may have been exposed to the disease. Individuals with possible exposure should be recommended to self-quarantine and monitor their symptoms. COVID-19 testing should only be used for making a diagnosis in patients with a clinical syndrome suggestive of the disease. 

• DHS Website Updates:
• LTC page: Added call-out box and link to the new nurse-aide page; link to a 30-minute overview added to Guidance for all Facilities section
• Provider page: Added call-out box and link to the new nurse-aide page; added reproductive health, family planning resources and Wisconsin Dental Assoc. link; updated the CDC link in the Dental section

• Wisconsin Department of Health Services Will Expand Presumptive Eligibility for BadgerCare Plus Express Enrollment (Alert 012)

• Risk for Severe COVID-19 Reports available from the Neighborhood Health Partnerships Program. You can request a report using this form.

• 3-minute “Donning and Doffing PPE” video from DHS

• CDC Interim Guidance:
• Discontinuation of Isolation for Persons with COVID-19 Not in Healthcare Settings
• Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in Retirement Communities and Independent Living Facilities. This guidance is for owners, administrators, operators, workers, volunteers, visitors, and residents.

• PPE Request Process for Long-Term Care Providers Caring for COVID-19 Positive Individuals - The State Emergency Operations Center has developed a process for requesting reserve resources from the strategic national stockpile. In order to request PPE, eligible providers must complete this form, and submit to their county emergency manager.

• DQA Assisted Living Forum, Tuesday, April 14, 10:00-11:00 a.m. Forums will be held weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays until further notice.

• Webinar: Home Quarantine & Staff Tracking in COVID-19, Wednesday, April 15,12:30 p.m.

• Webinar: Protecting Older Adults from the Harms of Social Isolation and Providing a Continuum of Care During COVID-19, Wednesday, April 15, 2:30 p.m.

• COCA Webinar: Guidance for Certifying Deaths Due to COVID-19, Thursday, April 16, 1:00-2:00 p.m.