Infectious diseases

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

When a national emergency was declared on March 13, 2020, we took action nationwide to aggressively respond to COVID-19. 

The links below provide information on past COVID-19 guidance. 

For Healthcare Facilities

Updated Nursing Home Guidance with Revised Visitation Recommendations (3/10/21)

Nursing Home Facilities Training 50% Achievement List (PDF) (11/17/20)

AQs About Visitation Considerations for Nursing Home Residents (PDF) UPDATED (3/10/21)

Trump Administration Response to Commission Recommendations (PDF) (9/16/20)

Guidance and Updates for Nursing Homes during COVID-19 (PDF) (9/16/20)

Memo to States and Nursing Home Stakeholders About Changes to Staffing Information and Quality Measures (6/25/20)

OVID Nursing Home Compare Data (6/4/20)

Nursing Home Data Release FAQs (PDF) (6/4/20)

Infographic: Nursing Home Reporting Numbers for 5/31/20 (PDF) (6/4/20)

Posting Nursing Home Inspections (6/4/20)

Nursing Home Reopening Recommendation FAQs (PDF) (5/18/20)

CMS letter to Nursing Home Facility Management & Staff (PDF) (PDF) (5/11/20)

COVID-19 Long-Term Care Facility Guidance (PDF) (4/3/20)

Guidance for Infection Control and Prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Nursing Homes-REVISED (PDF) (3/13/20)

 

Hospital Capacity Letter to Governors (PDF) (12/7/20)

Acute Hospital Care At Home waiver request (11/25/20)

How facilities can safely recognize holidays (PDF) (11/18/20)

For Labs

SARS-CoV-2 Laboratory Testing Comparison Graphic (PDF) (4/30/20)

Announcement: Medicare increases payment for high-production Coronavirus lab tests (PDF) (4/15/20)

Notification to Surveyors of the Authorization for Emergency Use of the CDC 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel Assay and Guidance for Authorized Laboratories (2/6/20)

Survey & Certification Guidance

Revised COVID-19 Focused Infection Control Survey Tool for Acute and Continuing Care (12/30/20)

CARES Act Financial Guidance to State Survey Agencies (PDF) (4/30/20)

Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes (PDF)  (4/30/20)

Nursing Home Five-Star Quality Rating Updates, Nursing Home Staff Counts, and Frequently Asked Questions  (4/24/20)

Frequently Asked Questions for State Survey Agency and Accrediting Organization Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (PDF)  (3/10/20)

Suspension of Survey Activities (3/4/20)

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Laboratory Guidance During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (3/27/20)

Prioritization of Survey Activities (PDF) (3/23/20)

Frequently Asked Questions for State Survey Agency and Accrediting Organization Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (PDF) (3/10/20)

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers on EMTALA (PDF) (3/9/20)

Zika virus outbreak (2016)

A member of the virus family Flaviviridae, Zika virus (ZIKV) is spread by daytime-active Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Zika virus is related to the Dengue, Yellow Fever, Encephalitis, and West Nile viruses. Since the 1950s, it has been known to occur within a narrow equatorial belt from Africa to Asia. From 2007 to 2016, the virus spread eastward, across the Pacific Ocean to the Americas, leading to the 2015–16 Zika virus epidemic.

On January 18, 2017, CMS announced $66.1 million in funding to health departments in American Samoa, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Florida to help combat the Zika virus. (PDF)

The links below provide information on the Health and Human Services (HHS) Public Health Emergency Declaration and its subsequent renewal.  Additional information on the ZIKV is found in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) link, found in the Related Link section. 

• November 4, 2016: Renewal of determination that a Public Health Emergency exists
• January 31, 2017:  Determination that a Public Health Emergency exists in Puerto Rico as a consequence of the Zika Virus outbreak