Health Alert Network Broadcast – May 5, 2020

To: All facilities On May 5, 2020 the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment released a Health Alert Network (HAN) Broadcast. The HAN includes information about the following topics: ● CDPHE has updated its “Release from Isolation” and “Return-to-Work” guidelines to reflect new CDC guidance which includes additional information about asymptomatic individuals who test positive and extends the isolation period to at least 10 days for all groups (after symptom onset for symptomatic individuals and after test date for asymptomatic individuals). ● The National Institutes of Health and the Infectious Diseases Society of America have issued new COVID-19 treatment guidelines. ● Health care facilities can consider forgoing contact tracing for exposures in a healthcare setting to COVID-19, and are advised to focus on universal source control (such as masking) and symptom screening of health care personnel. Per updated CDC guidelines, this includes active temperature checks at the beginning of each shift (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control-recommendations.html). ● Although groups previously identified in CDPHE’s testing tiers should still be prioritized for testing, as capacity for PCR testing increases, health care providers are encouraged to expand COVID-19 testing to all symptomatic patients when feasible. More widespread testing will help reduce the spread of COVID-19 by allowing individuals who are positive to be isolated appropriately and their contacts to be identified and quarantined. In addition, testing of asymptomatic individuals may also be indicated in outbreak settings when widespread testing is performed, in particular in congregate settings such as correctional facilities or long-term care facilities. ● ALL FACILITIES conducting specimen collection and/or COVID-19 testing are subject to reporting requirements. This includes laboratories, long term care facilities, detention facilities, and research settings. The full HAN can be found here: Health Alert Network Broadcast - May 5, 2020