COVID-19: Health Care Providers

Contact the DHS Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI) Prevention Program at DHSWIHAIPreventionProgram@dhs.wisconsin.gov if you are a health care provider with questions related to infection prevention and control, personal protective equipment (PPE), outbreak consultation, health care setting-specific guidance, National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) use and more. 

CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidance for health care settings

The CDC has issued COVID-19 guidance for health care personnel in all settings:

• Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic: This includes guidance for specific settings including dialysis facilities, emergency medical services, dental facilities, nursing homes, as well as assisted livings, group homes, and other non-nursing home residential care settings.
• Interim Guidance for Managing Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure to SARS-CoV-2
• Strategies to Mitigate Healthcare Personnel Staffing Shortages

The Department of Health Services (DHS) guidance for health care settings

View DHS guidance for preventing and managing COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases by setting:

• Preventing and Controlling Respiratory Illness Outbreaks in Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCF)
• COVID-19 guidance for assisted living facilities

Reporting guidance

As of November 1, 2023, only COVID-19-associated hospitalization and COVID-19-associated pediatric mortality are reportable.

• COVID-19-associated Hospitalizations EpiNet, P-03517 (PDF)
• COVID-19-associated Pediatric Mortality EpiNet, P-03518 (PDF)

COVID-19 outbreaks are also reportable. A suspected COVID-19 outbreak in LTCFs and other healthcare settings is defined by the Division of Public Health (DPH) as three or more residents and/or staff from the same unit with illness onsets within 72 hours of each other and who have a COVID-19 diagnosis.

For non-LTCF healthcare settings, only nosocomial cases should be counted. See additional outbreak guidance.

Health care personnel should adhere to standard and transmission-based precautions when caring for patients with COVID-19. Recommended PPE is described in the CDC's infection control guidance.

DHS Medical Stockpile is a cache of state-owned medical surge supplies and personal protective equipment including gloves, gowns, coveralls, face masks, face shields and N95 respirators.

The stockpile is available at no cost to hospitals, clinics and other healthcare providers in the event that an incident or situation outstrips existing inventory of such material. See eligibility and ordering information on the DHS webpage.

Testing at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH)

Beginning on June 12, 2023, WSLH will only test samples for SARS-CoV-2 that meet the following criteria:

• Surveillance samples requested by WSLH. (WSLH currently requests that each clinical laboratory submit 5 positive SARS-CoV-2 samples per week.)
• Post-mortem cause of death investigations.
• Public health outbreak investigations as directed by state, local, and Tribal public health departments. Pre-approval is required.
• Other testing as directed by public health departments.

Samples that meet the above criteria will be tested using a multiplex assay that includes SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, and influenza B. Submitters will receive results for all three of these viruses.

Testing for patients who do not meet one of the Wisconsin public health laboratory priorities listed above, but for whom testing is requested by a provider, should have their specimen submitted to in-house, commercial, or reference labs for testing.

Visit the DHS webpage for COVID-19 vaccinators for:

• Commercialization, clinical, administration guidance, and resources for vaccinators.
• Posters, videos, social media, and more about COVID-19 vaccines.

Below is a listing of all memos issued by DHS containing guidance for COVID-19.

The Wisconsin Health Alert Network (HAN) is the state’s public health messaging and alerting system for health care providers, public health officials, and first responders.

Health care providers are encouraged to join our email list to receive HAN messages.

View past HAN messages

The DHS Bureau of Communicable Diseases hosts monthly communicable disease webinars for health care providers.

View past webinars, upcoming topics, and join our email list for future invitations to live webinars on the Bureau of Communicable Diseases Webinars Page.

See the CDC website for guidance on clinical care and outpatient treatment of patients with COVID-19.

Learn about the distribution of COVID-19 treatments across Wisconsin, how to join the federal Test to Treat program, and other resources regarding the provision of COVID-19 treatments on the DHS webpage.