Case Reporting for Health Care Providers
Submit Confidential Morbidity Reports (CMRs) within 24 hours on patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection that have been hospitalized or have died. Providers should continue to report Multi-System Inflammatory Syndromes in Children (MIS-C).
- Fax to 510-273-3944 or send by secure email to COVIDreport@acgov.org.
Laboratories must continue to report positive and negative results via Electronic Laboratory Reporting (ELR) or by fax within 24 hours.
Reporting Threshold for Long-Term Care Facilities
- ≥1 probable or confirmed* COVID-19 cases in a resident or healthcare provider;
- ≥3 or more cases of acute illness compatible with COVID-19 in residents with onset within a 72-hour period
How to report: For facilities reporting their first outbreak, call 510-268-2785, Monday -Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. On weekends, call Alameda County Fire Dispatch at 925-422-7595 and ask to speak to the Public Health Duty Officer on call.
For facilities that have previously had an outbreak of COVID-19, please report to 510-268-2785 or email LTCFOutbreak@acgov.org. More reporting information and guidance can be found on the Long-Term Care Facility page.
Reporting Threshold for Adult Day Programs & Adult Day Health Centers
- ≥1 probable or confirmed* COVID-19 cases in a client/participant or facility staff
- ≥3 or more cases of acute illness compatible with COVID-19 in in client/participant/staff with onset within a 72-hour period
How to report: For facilities reporting their first outbreak, call 510-268-2785, Monday -Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
For facilities that have previously had an outbreak of COVID-19, please report to 510-268-2785 or email LTCFOutbreak@acgov.org.
Reporting Threshold for Health Care Facilities
Acute care facilities are required to report the following to the Alameda County Public Health Department per CDPH AFL 23-09 :
- ≥2 cases of probable* or confirmed* COVID-19 in a patient 4 or more days after admission for a non-COVID condition, with epi-linkage†;
- ≥3 cases of suspect, probable or confirmed COVID-19 in HCP with epi-linkage in counties where the level of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the community is low to moderate, or
- Any identified cluster of suspect, probable or confirmed COVID-19 in HCP with epi-linkage‡ in counties where the level of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the community is substantial or high (or ≥100/100,000 for 7 days)
*See CSTE position statement for probable and confirmed case definitions.
†Epi-linkage among patients is defined as overlap on the same unit or ward, or other patient care location (e.g., radiology suite), or having the potential to have been cared for by common HCP within a 7-day time period of each other. Determining epi-linkages requires judgment and may include weighing evidence whether or not patients had a common source of exposure.
‡Epi-linkage among HCP is defined as having the potential for close contact while working in the facility during the 7 days prior to the onset of symptoms; for example, worked on the same unit during the same shift, and no more likely sources of exposure identified outside the facility. Determining epi-linkages requires judgment and may include weighing evidence whether or not transmission took place in the facility, accounting for likely sources of exposure outside the facility.
How to Report:
Healthcare facilities with staff ONLY cases and contacts should complete the SPOT Intake Form for Workplaces.
Healthcare facilities reporting PATIENT AND STAFF cases should e-mail covidob@acgov.org and include the name and contact information of the reporter, facility name, number of employees or patients/residents involved, and a brief description. DO NOT include the names, date of birth, or any other protected health information of any persons diagnosed with or exposed to COVID-19 until a staff member from public health reaches out to you with instructions about how to securely report confidential information. More information about COVID-19 outbreak reporting for healthcare facilities and congregate living facilities can be found on the Healthcare Providers Page.
Outpatient health facilities, including dialysis facilities, emergency departments, urgent care, primary care, and dental offices must report the following to Alameda County Public Health Department per local reporting thresholds based on the reporting thresholds found on page 6 of the CSTE Proposed Investigation/Reporting Thresholds for COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings::
- Ambulatory Special Settings: ≥3 confirmed COVID-19 cases in patients or HCP with epi-linkage
- Emergency Department, Urgent Care, Primary Care: ≥3 cases of suspect, probable or confirmed COVID-19 in HCP with epi-linkage
Epi-linkage among HCP is defined as having the potential to have been within 6ft for 15 minutes or longer while working in the facility during the 7 days prior to prior to the onset of symptoms; for example, worked on the same shift or proximity.
Epi-linkage among patients is defined as overlap on the same unit or ward or having the potential to have been cared for by common HCP within a 7-day time period of each other.
*See CSTE position statement for probable and confirmed case definitions.
How to Report:
Healthcare facilities with staff ONLY cases and contacts should complete the SPOT Intake Form for Workplaces.
Healthcare facilities reporting PATIENT AND STAFF cases should e-mail covidob@acgov.org and include the name and contact information of the reporter, facility name, number of employees or patients/residents involved, and a brief description. DO NOT include the names, date of birth, or any other protected health information of any persons diagnosed with or exposed to COVID-19 until a staff member from public health reaches out to you with instructions about how to securely report confidential information. More information about COVID-19 outbreak reporting for healthcare facilities and congregate living facilities can be found on the Healthcare Providers Page.
Reporting Threshold for Shelters & Congregate Living Facilities
Congregate living facilities such as homeless shelters, residential treatment facilities, transitional housing facilities, room and board, group homes, and residential congregate living for youth must report the following to Alameda County Public Health Department per local reporting thresholds:
- ≥1 COVID-19 cases within a 14-day period in residents and/or staff
How to Report: Email covidob@acgov.org and follow the Step-by-Step Instructions for Preventing & Controlling Outbreaks at the Facility. In the email, include the name and contact information of the reporter, facility name, number of employees or residents involved, and a brief description. DO NOT include the names, date of birth, or any other protected health information of any persons diagnosed with or exposed to COVID-19.
Then, complete the Shared Portal for Outbreak Tracking (SPOT) Intake Form. More information and guidance about COVID-19 outbreak management and reporting for congregate living facilities can be found on the Healthcare Providers Page.Reporting Threshold for Correctional Facilities
County jails and juvenile detention centers must report the following to Alameda County Public Health Department in accordance with local reporting thresholds:
- ≥1 COVID-19 cases within a 14-day period in an inmate, corrections staff and/or contracted staff
How to report: Email COVIDCorrections@acgov.org and include the name and contact information of the reporter, facility name, number of employees or inmates involved, and a brief description. DO NOT include protected health information (PHI) of any patients.
Reporting Threshold for Schools, Childcare & Youth Congregate Settings
Children and Youth Congregate Settings, including daycares, schools, camps, and youth sports programs must report the following to Alameda County Public Health Department per CDPH K-12 guidance and local reporting thresholds:
Setting |
Number of Cases (e.g. the number of cases that need to be reported) |
|
Elementary schools or schools with stable classrooms |
5 or more positive COVID-19 cases within a 14-day period in an individual classroom |
| Secondary schools or shcools with students that change classrooms frequently | 15 percent or more of a grade has tested positive for COVID-19 within a 14-day period |
| Child care programs | 3 or more positive COVID-19 cases within a 14- day period
|
| Other (camp, youth center, extracurricular activity, youth sport, etc. | 3 or more positive COVID-19 cases within a 14- day period |
| Higher Education | 5% or more of the campus has tested positive for COVID-19 in a 14 day period. OR If you are concerned about cases escalating rapidly on your campus or in a particular group of students, you should report the cases and reach out to COVIDOB@acgov.org. |
Reporting Threshold for Workplaces
As of January 1, 2023, general workplaces are no longer required to report outbreaks (three or more COVID-19 cases among employees in an "exposed group" within a 14-day period) to their local health jurisdiction. AB 685 is no longer in effect and general workplaces should instead refer to AB 2693 and the Cal/OSHA Reporting Requirements FAQ for the most up-to-date COVID-19 case reporting and recording requirements. Reporting requirements for specific special settings are unchanged.
Covered employers must continue to comply with the COVID-19 Non-Emergency Temporary Standards, for Cal/OSHA reporting requirements. Please visit: https://www.dir.ca.gov/dosh/coronavirus/.
You are encouraged, but not required, to notify the Alameda County Public Health Department at COVIDOB@acgov.org and submit COVID-19+ employee cases to SPOT if any of the following occur:
- Any hospitalization or death associated with an outbreak.
- 11 or more cases in 2 weeks.
- You are concerned that you are unable to manage the outbreak at your facility using guidance provided on Alameda County Public Health COVID-19 website at https://covid-19.acgov.org/recovery.
