ADH is working closely with the Governor’s Office and the CDC to diligently monitor the virus and to keep the public informed. ADH has a 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) response team of doctors, nurses, epidemiologists, preparedness and emergency response, and communications. The team is involved in:
- Participating in multiple update calls a day with CDC and state and national partners
- Actively monitoring patients under investigation
- Providing guidance for suspected cases
- Monitoring through the syndromic surveillance system
- Providing clinical information, personal protection and isolation recommendations, and sample collection information and guidance to:
- Health care providers through the Health Alert Network (HAN)
- Emergency Department physicians
- Infection control practitioners
- Laboratories
- Health Care Coalition
- Hospital Association
- Board of Health and County Health Officers
- EMS providers
- XNA and LIT airports
- Department of Education
- Key businesses in Arkansas
- Individual conversations with key providers and hospitals
- Providing information to media, health care providers, and the public through: website updates, social media posts, and media interviews. The webpage houses:
- General information
- Clinical guidance for providers
- Signage for providers in English and Mandarin with information for patients
Current information on the Patient Under Investigation (PUI):
- A patient is considered “under investigation” if that patient warrants testing by the CDC for the virus. While this definition may change, as of now, a patient may require testing if:
- The patient traveled to Hubei Province, which may or may not include Wuhan City, China within the last 14 days and is symptomatic
- The patient traveled to mainland China within the last 14 days and is hospitalized due to being symptomatic
- The patient was in close contact with an ill person that has been laboratory-confirmed to have 2019-nCoV within the last 14 days and is symptomatic
- A sample for the Arkansas patient has been received at CDC for testing. Results are expected in the coming days.
- A patient that tests positive is then considered a confirmed case.
- ADH is very limited by the information that can be released about a patient due to patient privacy laws.
- To date, there is one PUI in the state and no confirmed cases.
Ongoing activities:
- ADH activated a call center on 1/30/20 with epidemiologists answering questions from health care providers and the public about the novel coronavirus. Based on demand, call center hours could be extended over the weekend. That number is 1-800-803-7847.
- Epidemiologists in the call center received 2 calls during regular business hours on 1/30/20.
- Epidemiologists in the call center received 11 calls during regular business hours on 1/31/20.
- Began providing daily updates on the ADH website on 1/30/20.
- Statements regarding the patient under investigation released 1/30/20 and 1/31/20.
- Updated physicians, EMS and other providers via the HAN, available on our webpage, of the new definition from CDC for PUIs released 1/31/20.
- Answered questions and provided guidance to primary and secondary schools.
- Preparing communications and agency activities if there is a confirmed case. Planned communications include:
- Reaching out to key state and federal partners
- Media relations
- Social media and website updates
