Health Professionals
Page last updated 9/18/2023.
Announcement
Updated vaccines that are effective against current COVID-19 variants will be arriving soon.
- On September
11, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took
action to approve and authorize updated (monovalent) mRNA COVID-19
vaccines. The updated vaccines are expected to provide better
protection against COVID-19 from the currently circulating
variant.
- As part of this action, the bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are no longer available (authorized for use) in the U.S.
- On September
12, 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
recommended that everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19
vaccine to protect against potentially serious outcomes of COVID-19
illness this fall and winter.
- Updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna will be available in the coming weeks.
- For more information, please contact your healthcare provider and visit www.coronavirus-sd.com for updates.
-
The COVID-19 Therapeutics Warmline is available for
California healthcare providers for free and confidential real-time
consultation on COVID-19 treatment. Healthcare providers can reach
someone by completing an online
form, or phone by calling 1-866-268-4322 from Monday – Friday,
6:00am – 5:00pm.
- Call for point-of-care assistance – no matter how complicated or straightforward the scenario might be. Kinds of questions asked include assistance managing drug-drug interactions, how to proceed without renal function values, Paxlovid safety/efficacy in pregnancy or use with older adults, and more.
NOTIFICATION: Currently outpatient treatments for COVID-19 are in adequate supply. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) treatment guidelines, oral antiviral medications and IV Remdesivir should be administered as soon as possible after a positive SARS-CoV-2 test, but no later than 5 days after symptom onset for oral antivirals and no later than 7 days after symptom onset (for IV Remdesivir).
To contact us, please email: MCS@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Join the Health Professionals telebriefing on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 3:30 pm.
Register to receive invitation to the Health Professionals telebriefings, eBlasts, and bi-monthly newsletters.
Send PPE requests to MOC.LOGS.HHSA@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Send COVID treatment questions to COVIDtreatment@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Interested in COVID-19 Clinical Assistance?
If your practice would like assistance from clinical leaders and public health experts on COVID-19 clinical guidelines and resources for your office and patients, SDAIM, or other topics, set up an appointment by contacting us at MCS@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Table of Contents
Recently Added Resources
- High Blood Pressure and COVID-19 (updated) (02/06/23)
-
CAHAN Update #60: Coronavirus Disease 2019
(COVID-19): Evusheld No Longer Authorized for
Use (01/27/23)
- COVID-19 Vaccination and
Treatment Fact Sheet (Spanish) updated
(1/24/2023)
- Paxlovid Informational Sheet Summary (updated) (Spanish) (1/24/2023)
- Make a Plan this
Winter Season - COVID-19 Flyer (Arabic) (01/13/23)
- Make a Plan this Winter Season - COVID-19 Flyer (Chinese / Dari / Farsi / Korean / Somali / Vietnamese) (01/09/22)
Information You Need
Caring for Your Mental Health During COVID-19 for Healthcare Personnel
Providing care to others during the COVID-19 pandemic can lead to stress, anxiety, fear, and other strong emotions. It may affect your well-being, the care you give to others while doing your job, and the well-being of the people close to you. View ways to build your resilience, cope with stress and find more resources. Call the National Suicide Prevention (new) phone number "988" to speak to a licensed clinician 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. The call is free and confidential.
CAHAN San Diego Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
- Update #63: COVID-19 Vaccine Update (September 15, 2023)
- Update #62: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Deauthorization of Monovalent mRNA Vaccines (April 27, 2023)
- Update #61: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Bivalent Boosters for Children 6 Months to 4 Years Old Who Have Completed the three-dose Pfizer-BioNTech Primary Series (March 27, 2023)
- Update #60: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Evusheld No Longer Authorized for Use (January 27, 2023)
- Update #59: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Update: COVID-19 Bivalent Booster Eligibility Expanded Down to Six Months of Age (December 15, 2022)
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Update #58: Treatment Options for Current COVID-19 Omicron
Subvariants (November 30, 2022)
- Update #57: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Bivalent Boosters Extended Down to 5 Years of Age (October 27, 2022)
- Update #56: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Update: Bivalent Boosters (September 6, 2022)
- Update #55: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Update: Novavax Vaccine (July 29, 2022)
- Update #54: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Update: Vaccine Eligibility Down to Six Months of Age (July 14, 2022)
Expand All Previous CAHANs | Collapse All Previous CAHANs
-
Previous CAHANs
Update #53: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Update: Pfizer Booster Age Indication (May 24, 2022)
Update #52: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Update: Second Boosters (April 1, 2022)
Update #51: New Federal Program for Oral Antivirals: Test-to-Treat Program in California (April 1, 2022)
Update #50: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Updates (February 25, 2022)
Update #49: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Addressing Low COVID-19 Vaccination Rates in Children 5-11 Years of Age (February 11, 2022)
Update #48: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Management of Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure (January 11, 2022)
Update #47: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Management of Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure (December 29, 2021)
Update #46: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Oral Treatment, Paxlovid (December 23, 2021)
Update #45: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Update: Pfizer Vaccine Age Indication (December 15, 2021)
Update #44: SARS-CoV-2 virus variant of concern B.1.1.529 (Omicron) (December 2, 2021)
Update #43: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Update: Pfizer Vaccine Age Indication (November 5, 2021)
Update #42: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Update: Expanded Eligibility for COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Doses (October 26, 2021)
Update #41: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Update: COVID-19 Vaccination for Pregnant People to Prevent Serious Illness, Deaths, and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes from COVID-19 (October 6, 2021)
Update #40: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Update: Pfizer Vaccine Booster Dosing (September 28, 2021)
Update #39: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Update (August 19, 2021)
Update #38: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Urgent Need to Increase Vaccination (July 30, 2021)
Update #37: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Monoclonal Antibody Therapies (July 22, 2021)
Update #36: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Monoclonal Antibody Therapies (June 4, 2021)
Update #35: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Update Myocarditis and Pericarditis after Receipt of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines (June 3, 2021)
Update #34: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Update: Expansion of Monoclonal Antibody Indications (May 20, 2021)
Update #33: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Update: Pfizer Vaccine Age Indication (May 13, 2021)
Update #32: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Update (April 26, 2021)
Update #31: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Adverse Events and Update (April 15, 2021)
Update #30: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Update (April 13, 2021)
Update #29: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Update (April 12, 2021)
Update #28: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Update (March 16, 2021)
Update #27: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Variants (March 2, 2021)
Update #26: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine and Monoclonal Antibody Update
(March 1, 2021)Update #25: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Update (February 2, 2021)
Update #24: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Quarantine Update (January 27, 2021)
Update #23: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Update (January 21, 2021)
Update #22: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Update (January 8, 2021)
Update #21: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) California Crisis Care Continuum Guidelines for General Acute Care Hospitals and State Public Health Officer Order (January 6, 2021)
Update #20: SARS-CoV-2 Virus Variant Identified in the United Kingdom (December 28, 2020)
Update #19: Updated Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Test Result Reporting Guidance (October 16, 2020)
Update #18: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Guidance and Resources to Support Management of Children with COVID-19 Symptoms Who Attend Daycare or In-Person School (October 7, 2020)
Update #17: UPDATED Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Testing Guidance and Additional Updates (August 17, 2020)
Table: Priority Level for Testing Criteria: Federal, State and County Recommendations
Update #16: Test, Trace, and Treat (T3) Strategy (June 12, 2020)
Update #15: Revised Isolation Period, Clinical Symptoms, Resuming Deferred and Preventive Health Care, and CDPH Weekly SNF Infection Prevention Calls (May 4, 2020)
Update #14: Antibody Testing (April 30, 2020)
Update #13: Expansion of COVID-19 Testing (April 23, 2020)
Table: Priority Level for Testing Criteria: Federal, State, and County Recommendations (archived version—please see latest version of table above)
Update #12: Collection and Preparation of N95 Respirators for Potential Decontamination and Reuse (4/17/20)
Update #11: Revised COVID-19 Exposure Period, Updated Health Officer Orders, Close Contact Notification Instructions, and Death Certification Guidance (4/9/20)
Update #10: Reuse and Decontamination of N95 Respirator for Crisis Capacity Strategy (4/6/20)
Update #9: Guidance for Healthcare Personnel Related to Monitoring, Isolation, and Exposures (4/3/20)
Update #8: Personal Protective Equipment Guidance (4/1/20)
Update #7: Key Recommendations for Providers, Priority Populations for COVID-19 Testing (3/26/20)
Update #6: Several important changes to recommendations for COVID-19 infection control, healthcare workers exposures, and diagnostic testing (3/19/20)
Update #5: Updated infection control and prevention guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and County of San Diego Public Health Services (3/14/20)
Update #4: Presumptive positive case in a San Diego County resident and new diagnostic testing options for SARS-CoV-2 (3/10/20)
Update #3: Updated criteria for evaluation of persons under investigation (PUI) to a wider group of symptomatic patients (3/5/20)
Update #2: Updated the definition of persons under investigation (PUI) to include countries with widespread or sustained community transmission of COVID-19 (2/28/20)
Update: Updated the interim guidance for healthcare professionals to evaluate potential cases (2/1/20)
Advisory: 2019 Novel Coronavirus (1/24/20)
COVID-19 Vaccine Community Conversations Toolbox
Healthcare professionals are trusted messengers of vaccination information. This COVID-19 Vaccine Community Conversations Toolbox is filled with resources to support health professionals in providing community presentations about the COVID-19 vaccines. Please note, information is subject to change and will be updated regularly.
COVID-19 Vaccines
For information about COVID-19 vaccines, including emergency use authorizations, fact sheets, guidance, and trainings, please visit COVID-19 Vaccines.
- County of San Diego
-
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Frequently Asked Questions for Healthcare Providers
- Frequently Asked Questions about Personal Protective Equipment
- Frequently Asked Questions: Infection Prevention & Control in Dental Settings
- Using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Clinical Questions about COVID-19: Questions and Answers-Infection Control
Information for Busy Clinicians
For COVID-19 vaccine, quarantine and isolation instructions, temporary lodging, and other important information, please visit Information for Busy Clinicians. Reporting guidelines for COVID-19, such as when and how to report COVID-19, and an epidemiology duty officer to help determine how to handle an exposure in the healthcare setting are available. To report a communicable disease, contact the Epidemiology Unit by phone at (619) 692-8499. For urgent matters on evenings, weekends or holidays, dial (858) 565-5255 and ask for the epidemiology unit duty officer.
For information about COVID-19 oral medications, please visit Outpatient Therapies for COVID-19.
Most Recent Public Health Order
Amharic | Arabic | Chinese | Karen | Korean | Portuguese | Somali | Spanish | Tagalog | Vietnamese
Home Isolation Instructions for Coronavirus Disease
2019 (COVID-19)
Amharic | Arabic | Chinese | Karen | Korean | Portuguese| Somali | Spanish | Tagalog | Vietnamese
Amharic
| Arabic | Chinese | Karen | Korean | Portuguese | Somali | Spanish | Tagalog | Vietnamese
Home Quarantine Guidance for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Close Contacts - Note: If the close contact is a healthcare worker, first responder, or other critical infrastructure worker, please have them refer to their employer and the CDC Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers web page for guidance.
Amharic | Arabic | Chinese | Karen | Korean | Portuguese | Somali | Spanish | Tagalog | Vietnamese
Where to Report a Positive COVID-19 Test
- Positive lab tests should be reported to the San Diego County Epidemiology Unit through the normal reporting process, via fax, (858) 715-6458, using the COVID-19 Confidential Morbidity Report Form.
- All positive and negative SARS-CoV-2 test results (including antigen and serology tests that have an Emergency Use Authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) must be reported by laboratories.
- See our Reporting Guidelines for COVID-19 web page for more information.
- For questions, please contact the Epidemiology Unit at (619) 692-8499.
Temporary Lodging Program
The County of San Diego COVID-19 Temporary Lodging Line and Public Health Hotel Program have concluded and are no longer available, as of March 1, 2022.
With the COVID-19 Public Health Hotel Program ending, the County Epidemiology Unit will return to its Public Health Services Temporary Lodging model. This framework is designed to temporarily house individuals, referred by the healthcare system, who require a safe place to isolate during their infectious period.
Testing Available for Children and Adults
If a child or youth is unable to get tested from their healthcare provider, children 6 months and older are able to be tested at any County-coordinated test site. Please visit the Testing webpage for more information. Reporting guidelines for COVID-19, such as when and how to report COVID-19, and an epidemiology duty officer to help determine how to handle an exposure in the healthcare setting are available. To report a communicable disease, contact the Epidemiology Unit by phone at (619) 692-8499. For urgent matters on evenings, weekends or holidays, dial (858) 565-5255 and ask for the epidemiology unit duty officer.
Expired Resources and Guidance
Resources for Healthcare Workers
Behavioral Health for Patients
Guidance for
Different Patient Groups
Resources and Materials for Practices and Clinics
Resources for Dentists
Guidance, Recommendations, & Flow Charts
How Patients Can Care for Themselves at Home
Prevention & Sanitation
Planning & Response Guidance
Considerations, Recommendations, & Checklists for PPE
Collecting Samples & Next Steps
Guidance & Steps to Prepare
Quick Guides & Fact Sheets
Guidance About Who Should be Tested & How to Evaluate
The County of San Diego would like to thank all the health
professionals in our community for your extraordinary
work, dedication and support to help ensure that our region is
healthy, safe, and thriving.
COVID-19 Website