Connecticut Epidemiologist Newsletter • January 2021 • Volume 41, No.1
Reportable Diseases, Emergency Illnesses and Health Conditions, and Reportable Laboratory Findings Changes for 2021
As required by Conn. Gen. Stat. §19a-2a and Conn. Agencies Regs. §19a-36-A2, the Commissioner of the Department of Public Health (DPH) is required to declare an annual list of Reportable Diseases, Emergency Illnesses and Health Conditions, and Reportable Laboratory Findings. The list of Reportable Diseases, Emergency Illnesses and Health Conditions has two parts: (A) reportable diseases; and (B) reportable emergency illnesses and health conditions. An advisory committee, consisting of public health officials, clinicians, and laboratorians, contribute to the annual process. There are 3 additions and 1 modification to the healthcare provider list, and 1 addition to the laboratory list. No changes have been made to emergency illnesses or health conditions.
Reportable disease and laboratory reporting forms are on the DPH “Forms” webpage at: https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Communications/Forms/Forms.
Changes to the List of Reportable Laboratory Findings
SARS-CoV-2: SARS-CoV-2 virus is officially added. As of December 29, 2020, DPH has received over 4.25 million reports of molecular and antigen tests for SARS-CoV-2. Laboratories (as defined under the HHS guidance of June 4, 2020) performing testing for SARS-CoV-2 virus are required to report both positive and negative test results in an electronic format within 24 hours of performing the test. This includes any location performing on-site testing such as healthcare providers performing point of care testing for SARS-CoV-2. For questions about laboratory reporting, please contact DPH.InformaticsLab@ct.gov.
Changes to the List of Reportable Diseases, Emergency Illnesses
and Health Conditions
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is officially added. Connecticut is now experiencing a second wave of COVID-19 with over 180,000 cases reported to DPH as of December 29, 2020. Healthcare providers that diagnose COVID-19 (based on a positive molecular or antigen lab result or symptoms) must report the case and all required information using the online reporting portal https://dphsubmissions.ct.gov/Covid/InitiateCovidReport. Reports should be made within 24 hrs of identification of a positive case of COVID-19.
COVID-19 Hospitalizations: COVID-19 hospitalizations is officially added. Hospitalizations are a key measure of severity of illness caused by COVID-19. Accurate data are critical for understanding the impact on healthcare systems and populations most affected. Hospitalized patients who have confirmatory laboratory evidence of SARS-CoV-2 (e.g., positive molecular test result), should be entered into the CT Electronic Diseases Surveillance System (CTEDSS) by Connecticut acute care hospital staff as soon as possible after identification. These include patients who had a confirmatory laboratory test within the 14 days before admission. Acute care hospitals are also required to provide the DPH with remote access to electronic medical records of COVID-19 hospitalized patients with either confirmatory, presumptive or supportive laboratory evidence of COVID-19. This access is necessary for public health actions including appropriate tracking and classification of COVID-19 cases.
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C): Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is added. Healthcare providers should report each case that meets the CDC case definition to DPH by completing the CDC MIS-C Case Report form (https://www.cdc.gov/mis-c/pdfs/hcp/mis-c-form-fillable.pdf) AND calling 860-509-7994 to report.
Influenza Hospitalizations Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Access: Influenza hospitalizations reporting is modified. Electronic medical record (EMR) access is required for influenza hospitalizations. Connecticut’s Emerging Infections Program is conducting near real-time surveillance for COVID-19 associated hospitalizations, gathering data via remote EMR access. Rapid access to EMR for influenza patients will allow us to provide data needed to inform the public health response to both influenza and SARS-CoV-2 at the state and national level. Yale Emerging Infections Program staff will work with hospitals to gain access to the appropriate EMR system.
This page last updated 1/14/2021.