Healthcare Providers

Reporting Positive Results, COVID-19-Related Deaths, and Probable Cases

As of April 14, 2024, only cases of COVID-19 who are living in congregate living facilities should be reported. A congregate living facility is defined as a facility where persons reside and share common spaces with other residents. Congregate living facilities can include, but are not limited to, residential care facilities, assisted living facilities, intermediate care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, jails, prisons, shelters, mental health facilities, dormitories, and residential summer camps. 

For Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCFs)

Long-term care facilities (e.g., skilled nursing facilities*, assisted living facilities, specialty care assisted living facilities, and intermediate care facilities for individuals with an intellectual disability), will use the COVID-19 LTC Investigation Form to report all positive resident cases, hospitalizations, and related deaths. 

^*Skilled nursing facilities satisfy this reporting requirement by reporting COVID-19 resident cases into the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). 

Performing laboratories are required to report all negative and positive COVID-19 virus test results electronically (faxes do not count). If not already enrolled, laboratories will need to manually enter test results directly into the surveillance system. Contact [email protected] to enroll staff today.

For Correctional and Detention Facilities

All Correctional and Detention Facilities will use the COVID-19 Correctional Facility Investigation Form to report all COVID-19 positive results and related deaths of incarcerated or detained individuals. This form will be used by any facility that houses incarcerated or detained persons including state/federal prisons, jails, department of youth services, work releases, and correctional-based group homes. The Correctional Facility Investigation Form is the only reporting form that should be completed for incarcerated or detained individuals. 

Facilities conducting Point of Care testing on-site will report the positive test result including the test method on the investigation form to satisfy the reporting requirement. Facilities that continue to use commercial laboratories for testing will rely on the performing laboratory to report positive COVID-19 virus test results electronically (faxes do not count). 

For all other Congregate Living Facilities

The Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) REPORT Card should be used. The type of congregate living facility in which the patient resides must be completed in the patient demographic section of the form. 

This form will be used to report all positive resident cases, hospitalizations, and related deaths in congregate living facilities including, but are not limited to, residential care facilities, assisted living facilities, intermediate care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, jails, prisons, shelters, mental health facilities, dormitories, and residential summer camps. Long Term Care and Correctional Facilities should not use this link. Please complete the respective COVID-19 Investigation Forms listed above.

Hospital & Commercial Laboratories:

Laboratories are required to report positive SARS-CoV2 results electronically within 24 hours of results. Faxes are not electronic reporting. For additional details please see the Memo defining Electronic Laboratory Reporting.

CDC Resources

• Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic