Information for Medical Professionals

We are appealing to all providers in Shasta County to do your part as leaders in our community to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and keep yourselves, your staff and your patients safe.

Read the joint statement from North Valley Medical Association Board of Directors and Shasta County Public Health.

If you are a mandated reporter and observe child abuse, please use our Suspected Child Abuse Report form.

• Hiring Extra Help

  We're hiring a variety of "extra-help" positions to work in the COVID-19 response.

  Apply as Extra-Help

• Looking for Volunteers

  Are you interested in volunteering? We're also building a registry of emergency volunteers.

  Register as Volunteer

What Healthcare Personnel Should Know

• Tier 1 testing in the Public Health Laboratory (9/15/2020)
• Recommendations for Use of Abbott BinaxNOW (11/19/2020)
• General Antigen Test Guidance (11/19/2020)
• PCR versus Antigen Testing Quick Reference Guide (11/19/2020)
• SARS-CoV-2 Testing Strategies for Skilled Nursing Facilities (11/02/2020)
• CDC Guidance for Healthcare Professionals
• Infection Prevention
• Interfacility Transfers and Discharges (10/12/2020)
• Donning/Doffing PPE

Local Contact Information for Reporting and Testing COVID-19

Report any suspected Patient Under Investigation (PUI) immediately to Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Branch:

• (530) 225-5591 during business hours
• (530) 395-0132 after hours, weekends and holidays

Staff will assist with questions about PUI criteria and testing. For questions about specimen packaging and handling, contact the Public Health lab at (530) 225-5072.

Confidential Morbidity Report for COVID-19

Shasta County COVID-19 Health Alerts and Updates

Articles about the increased importance of influenza vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Why COVID-19 Means You Need a Flu Shot This Year
• Coronavirus and the Flu: A Looming Double Threat

11/20/2020 - Health Advisory #20: Testing Updates and COVID-19 reporting

10/15/2020 - Health Advisory #19: Preventing COVID-19 Transmission in Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living Facilities

09/24/2020 - Health Update #18 Health Officer Flu Vaccine Requirement Rescinded and Frequently Asked Questions: Influenza Vaccination During COVID-19

09/14/2020 - Health Update #17: School Protocols

09/10/2020 - Health Advisory #16.1: Visitation in Skilled Nursing Facilities - Updated 11/03/2020

08/19/2020 - Health Advisory #15: COVID-19 Testing Updates

06/19/2020 - Health Update #14: Masks and face coverings

05/27/2020 - Health Advisory #13: Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), laboratory testing, and universal source control

05/07/2020 - Health Advisory #12: COVID 19 Health Advisory #12 050720

04/20/2020 - Alert #11: Lab Prioritization Criteria Advisory Update

04/08/2020 - Alert #10: Recommendations for more widespread testing for COVID-19

03/27/2020 - Alert #9: COVID-19 PPE Health Advisory

03/27/2020 - Alert #8: Lab Prioritization Criteria Advisory Update

03/16/2020 - Alert #7: COVID-19 Lab Prioritization Criteria Advisory - With commercial laboratories becoming available to conduct testing for COVID-19, Shasta County Public Health (SCPH) is focusing its limited testing resources on the at-risk population.

03/05/2020 - Alert #6: COVID-19 Health Advisory for Medical Professionals - The purpose of this Health Advisory is to reiterate local procedures and advise health care providers of new guidance released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

1. Updated criteria for evaluating and reporting Persons Under Investigation (PUI).
2. Process to submit specimens to Shasta County Public Health (SCPH) for testing

02/28/2020 - Alert #5: COVID-19 Health Advisory for Medical Professionals - The purpose of this Health Advisory is to reiterate local procedures and advise health care providers of new guidance released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as follows:

1. Risk assessment and initial management of patients with respiratory illness
2. Updated criteria for evaluating and reporting Persons Under Investigation (PUI)
3. Process to submit specimens to Shasta County Public Health for testing
4. CDC Health Update February 28, 2020
5. Updated CDC and facilities guidance

02/13/2020 - Alert #4: COVID-19 Health Advisory for Medical Providers - The purpose of this alert is to advise health care providers of new guidance released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) since the February 4th health alert released by Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Branch, including:

1. Interim U.S. Guidance for Risk Assessment and Public Health Management of Healthcare Personnel with Potential Exposure in a Healthcare Setting to Patients with 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV);
2. Interim Guidance for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems and 911 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) for 2019-nCoV in the United States; and
3. Recommendations for use of the Healthcare Supply of Personal Protective Equipment, including
4. Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators.

02/04/2020 - Alert #3: 2019 Novel Coronavirus Health Advisory for Medical Professionals - Since the January 31st health alert released by Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Branch, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released:

1. An update to its interim infection prevention and control recommendations for 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV).
2. Interim clinical guidance for management of patients with confirmed 2019-nCoV infection.
3. Guidance for risk assessment and public health management of persons with potential 2019-nCoV exposure in travel-associated or community settings.
4.  A flow chart to identify and assess patients who are ill or exposed to 2019-nCoV (attached).

01/31/2020 - Alert #2: 2019 Novel Coronavirus Health Advisory for Medical Professionals - Since the January 28th health alert, the criteria for a Patient Under Investigation (PUI) for 2019 Wuhan Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has been updated.

01/28/2020 - Alert #1: 2019 Novel Coronavirus Health Advisory for Medical Professionals - Key messages:

1. Collect travel history on all patients presenting with fever and acute respiratory illness.
2. Known risks at this time for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) include travel to Wuhan, China or close contact with a confirmed case or Patient Under Investigation (PUI) for 2019-nCoV. *Please note: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may be expanding the PUI criteria to include other/all areas of China. Please watch for updates at the link below.
3. Contact Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Branch to report PUIs and arrange for testing. Currently all testing for 2019-nCoV is being conducted at CDC.
4. Refer to the CDC for updates in criteria for evaluation of PUI as the situation unfolds. Refer to the CDC for updates to its interim healthcare infection prevention and control recommendations for Patients Under Investigation for 2019-nCoV.
5. Review procedures for collection of laboratory specimens for 2019-nCoV testing and laboratory biosafety guidelines.