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COVID-19: Testing Tools, Health Care Personnel Cases

To expedite Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certification for laboratories testing for COVID-19, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a quick start guide and online payment option.

The guide outlines the CLIA certification process, including the expedited review process during the public health emergency. Under this process, labs may begin COVID-19 testing before the CLIA certificate arrives by mail. Laboratories now also may pay CLIA certification fees online, which may be processed overnight.

The Food and Drug Administration will hold a virtual town hall for clinical laboratories and commercial manufacturers developing diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2. The town hall is Sept. 30 from 12:15 to 1:15 pm ET. Attendees should dial in at 888.455.1392, with conference number RWXW1646987 and passcode 9493939.

CDC Report on COVID-19 Cases Among Health Care Personnel

A study in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report examines the prevalence of COVID-19 in health care personnel.

This report, an update to an April 2020 study, examines data among 100,570 health care workers with COVID-19, from Feb. 12 to July 16. Fatal COVID-19 cases were more common in health care personnel were ages 65 and older, male, Asian, or Black, as well as those who had an underlying medical condition.

Several practices are critical to slowing the virus’ spread, including universal face mask requirements in the workplace, social distancing, hand hygiene, screening health care personnel before entering the workplace, and providing nonpunitive sick leave options.

Visit the America’s Essential Hospitals coronavirus resource page for more information about the outbreak.

Contact Senior Director of Policy Erin O’Malley at eomalley@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.

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About the Author

Emily Schweich is a communications manager at America's Essential Hospitals.

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