​Background

Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on January 21, 2020 that the 2019 Novel Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus had its first confirmed case in the United States, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) sent out AFL 20-09 Health Update and Interim Guidance – 2019 Novel Coronavirus (nCoV), on January 23, 2020, to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) and infection control guidance to facilities.

As of January 24, 2020, there are confirmed cases in California. CDPH is requesting health facilities to assist in evaluating the capacity for California to respond to potential expansion of 2019-nCoV in California. CDPH requests that facility leadership complete the Facility Capacity to Respond to Potential 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) survey by the end of day, Wednesday, January 29, 2020.

The questions are listed below so you can see the information we are requesting before you respond on behalf of your facility.  Please note that designation of an individual as a facility's contact is voluntary. To every extent possible, personally identifiable information submitted will be kept confidential subject to the provisions of state and federal laws including, but not limited to, the California Information Practices Act of 1977, and only used for the purposes stated herein.

Health facility responses to these questions will greatly assist CDPH in understanding the capacity throughout the geographic regions of the state. This is only a gathering of information so that CDPH can better plan, communicate, and coordinate responses if needed.

List of questions on the survey:

1. Type of health facility 
2. Name of health facility
3. In the event that you should have a Patient Under Investigation (PUI) tested or a confirmed case, please write in the cell/direct number and contact information of the administrator at your facility whom we can work with to coordinate a response. (Optional)
4. How many isolation rooms or private enclosed spaces do you have to isolate a patient?
5. How many airborne infection isolation (negative pressure) rooms do you have for symptomatic patients?
6. How many rooms do you have which could be converted to temporary negative pressure isolation rooms using portable high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) machines?
7. Do you have adequate staffing to handle a PUI, a confirmed case, or potential multiple cases?
8. Do you currently have adequate supplies (preferably up to 30 days of operational use) of personal protective equipment (PPE) for potential multiple cases?​
   
1. gloves
2. gowns
3. eye protection
4. N95 respirators
5. powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs) for PUI or confirmed case
9. Are there other spaces in your facility, such as a floor or nursing unit, that could be designated for the care of 2019-nCoV patients only, rather than placing them in airborne isolation rooms throughout the hospital, if the capacity for individual airborne isolation rooms is exceeded?
10. Does your hospital's onsite clinical laboratory have the capacity to perform multiplex polymerase chain reactions (PCR) for viral pathogens, e.g., Biofire?
11. Are there other factors or comments about your facility that are important for CDPH to know?
    

In addition to the above survey, we have also attached resources for your facility to prepare: Healthcare Facility P​reparedness Checklist (PDF) and Air Changes Per Hour (ACH) Table (PDF).

Please contact your local health department (PDF) immediately if a PUI for 2019-nCoV is identified, or if a patient's status as a PUI is uncertain.  In addition, please report this as an unusual occurrence to your local CDPH Licensing & Certification District Office so they can communicate with the CDPH Medical and Health Coordination Center.

If you have any questions regarding the infection prevention and control of 2019-nCoV, please contact the CDPH Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Program at novelvirus@cdph.ca.gov.​

Sincerely,

Original signed by Heidi W. Steinecker

Heidi W. Steinecker

Deputy Director

Attachment:

• Healthcare Facility Preparedness Checklist (PDF)
• Air Changes Per Hour (ACH) Table (PDF)