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Helpful information to keep you and your agency prepared!

OHA officials continue to recommend people in Oregon take everyday precautions to prevent the spread of many respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19 and influenza:

  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Clean and disinfect surfaces that are often touched.
  • Take care of your health overall. Staying current on your vaccinations, including flu vaccine, eating well and exercising all help your body stay resilient.
  • Consult CDC’s travel website for any travel advisories and steps to protect yourself if you plan to travel outside of the US

CDC Updates!

CDC Updates on the Coronavirus. 

Get Approval for Testing

Clinical and Infection Control Guidance

Guidance for Clinics and Hospitals

Guidance for Long-Term Care Facilities

Guidance for Home Care

Prehospital Guidance

OHA Interim Prehospital Guidance for Novel Coronavirus

Q&A Webinar

Crisis Care Guidance

Submitting Specimens

Obtain approval for testing by submitting a Confidential Oregon Morbidity Report​ (see Provisional Guidance for details).

Specimens approved for testing should be shipped refrigerated (2-8°C) to the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory (OSPHL) following appropriate shipping regulations.

    The following completed form must accompany all specimens:
  • Virology/Immunology Test Request Form (one form per specimen)
    • In the “OTHER/MOLECULAR” section, mark the checkbox indicating “Other” and type or write in “2019-nCoV” or “COVID-19” on the line provided.

Please refer to the OSPHL Lab Test Menu and the CDC Interim Guidance for Collecting, Handling, and Testing Clinical Specimens from PUIs for complete specimen collection guidance.

CDC Interim Guidance for Implementing Home Care of People not Requiring Hospitalization provides guidance on assessing the suitability of the setting for home care, precautions to implement and additional home care resources.

CDC's Strategies to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCF) are the same strategies these facilities use every day to detect and prevent the spread of other respiratory viruses like influenza.

 

Sources

OHA Emerging Respiratory Disease page: www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus
CDC COVID-19 page: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
CDC travel notice: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices
WHO page: https://www.who.int/westernpacific/emergencies/novel-coronavirus

Resources

Telehealth Toolkit for General Practitioners Here:  https://www.cms.gov/files/document/general-telemedicine-toolkit.pdf
End-Stage Renal Disease Providers Toolkit Here: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/esrd-provider-telehealth-telemedicine-toolkit.pdf
COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Health Care Provider Fact Sheet 
DHS Long-term Care COVID-19 Visitation Policy Update (3/15/20)
Coronavirus Home Health & Hospice Checklist (updated 3/16/20)
CMS: Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning Coronavirus
CMS: Guidance for Use of Certain Industrial Respirators by Health Care Personnel
CMS guidance documents for providers and State surveyors related to COVID-19: Home health agencies |  Hospice providers  

Other News

US Department of Labor Announces New Guidance on Unemployment Insurance Flexibilities During COVID-19 Outbreak

Education

6-Part Coronavirus Webinar Series starting March 25th, Hosted by NAHC. Register Here