Welcome to the latest edition of The Lowdown. This issue provides you resources from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA-DOH) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to navigate the pandemic.
Health Alert Resources
A health alert network (HAN) is the CDC and PA-DOH’s primary way of sharing information about urgent public health incidents. If you are not signed up to receive the HAN alerts, SIGN UP NOW! Please use the links below and sign up to receive timely updates and information.
- CDC HAN Alerts https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/updates.asp
- PA-HAN Alerts https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/prep/PA-HAN/Pages/HAN.aspx
CDC Resources
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Preparedness Checklist—A checklist for facilities to assess and improve their preparedness for responding to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/novel- coronavirus-2019-Nursing-Homes-Preparedness-Checklist_3_13.pdf
- Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) or Persons Under Investigation for COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/infection- control/control-recommendations.html
- Strategies to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCF) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/healthcare-facilities/prevent-spread-in-long-term-carefacilities.html
EPA Resources
Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2
PA–DOH Resources
Interim Guidance documents are available on the PA HAN network. Please sign up today.
1-877-PA HEALTH for clinical questions related to patient/resident care only
Pennsylvania Healthcare Coalition (HCC) For all operational questions (supplies, processes, etc.) about COVID-19 and other emergency preparedness issues contact your regional Healthcare Coalition (HCC) https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/prep/Pages/HCC.aspx. See map on the next page.
Pennsylvania Healthcare Coalition
A healthcare coalition is defined by as a formal collaboration among healthcare organizations and public and private partners that is organized to prepare for, respond to, and recover from an emergency, mass casualty or catastrophic event.1
1 Pennsylvania Department of Health. Emergency Preparedness – Healthcare Coalition. [online]. https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/prep/Pages/HCC.aspx
