Under Title 17, Section 2500, California Code of Regulations all suspected outbreaks are reportable.
Definition of Outbreak:
At least three or more epidemiologic linked laboratory confirmed cases (symptomatic or asymptomatic) of COVID-19 among incarcerated/detained individuals within a 14-day period.
Presumed case criteria
LAC DPH requires that all incarcerated/detained persons who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 in a housing unit with other known cases, but who have not been tested, be considered a “presumed case.” Presumed cases should meet the following criteria in the absence of an alternative diagnosis:
Other COVID-19 terms defined for the purpose of this document:
Definition of up to date with COVID-19 vaccines:
Refer to LAC DPH Guidance for Correctional and Detention Facilities
See guidance below for control of disease transmission among single cases and multiple cases in incarcerated/detained persons, as well as cases among correctional facility staff.
For up-to-date information on symptoms, transmission, period of infectiousness, contacts, and vaccination please refer to the B73 homepage.
A close contact (staff
and/or incarcerated persons) is defined as someone
sharing the same indoor airspace for a cumulative
total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period
while the case was infectious.
An example of "a total of
15 minutes or more" is being in the same airspace
with the person for 5 minutes at least 3 different
times in 24 hours.
*This is regardless of
use of face masks by the case or contact. Exception:
Cal/OSHA states that employees are not a close
contact if they wore a respirator required by the
employer and used in compliance with section 5144,
whenever they were sharing the same airspace of the
COVID-19 case while they were infectious.
Note: In large indoor
spaces, correctional facilities may determine close
contacts by using a smaller shared airspace area
within the larger airspace (such as an individual
room, break or eating area, or waiting area) or by
using a distinct cohort of employees (such as
departments or shifts). When a larger indoor space
cannot be easily divided into smaller discrete
spaces or distinct cohorts of individuals, then
close contacts may be determined based on proximity
to the case. Those persons closer to the infected
person or in a more enclosed shared airspace are at
the greatest risk of exposure.
Facility to identify all
close contact correctional staff and healthcare
personnel (includes clinical and ancillary staff),
and determine risk status using the guide outlined
in LAC
DPH Guidance for Monitoring Healthcare Personnel and
companion guidance, CDC
Criteria for Return to Work for Healthcare Personnel
with Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19 (Interim
Guidance).
Facility should document
the contacts on the “Close Contacts” tab of
the COVID-19 Outbreak Line List for Correctional
Facilities and provide to DPH upon request.
Visitors:
Refer to LAC DPH Guidance for Visitation
Facility to identify any
close contact visitors that may have been exposed to
a confirmed case and instruct to
self-quarantine and self-monitor for symptoms for 10
days after last exposure.
Visitors should call
their primary care provider to discuss testing
options and guidance.
Facilities are encouraged
to maintain daily visitor log with date and time of
visit as a regular practice.
These guidelines outline actions that
correctional/detention facilities should take to help prevent
and manage COVID-19, based on the status of and trends in
community transmission in LA County.
Refer to
LAC DPH Guidance for Correctional and Detention Facilities
Key recommendations include:
Visit the LAC DPH COVID-19 website frequently for updated information on COVID-19 testing, infection control, FAQs, and guidance for facilities.
COVID-19 prevention and management for incarcerated/detained persons
Refer to
LAC DPH Guidance for Correctional and Detention
Facilities
Key recommendations include:
COVID-19 prevention and management for staff:
Refer to
LAC DPH Guidance for Correctional and Detention Facilities
Instruct
employees with confirmed COVID-19
and any ill employees with symptoms
suggestive of respiratory illness to
self-isolate at home.
Employer, or site coordinator, should recommend testing for all symptomatic employees even if they are up to date on COVID-19 vaccines. They can be referred to their primary care provider or 2-1-1 to access county or city testing resources.
If the employee
came to the site while ill, they
should be separated from others with
door closed, masked, and directed to
go home right away.
Determine which
days or shifts the case was on site
at the facility and the last date
worked by the case on the facility.
If ill person has
severe symptoms, call 9-1-1. Notify
EMS and the receiving healthcare
facility of possible exposures.
Consider alternative work options like teleworking if employee is well enough to do so.
Instruct employee
case to notify all other employers
of their illness in order to
initiate contact investigations or
other necessary infection control
measures.
Document
suspected and confirmed cases,
regardless of prior testing or
vaccination status, on the COVID-19
Outbreak Line
List for Correctional Facilities.
Even if COVID-19
testing is negative for a
symptomatic employee, utilize the
symptom-based clearance strategy in
bullet 1 for return to work.
General and Administrative Considerations during an Outbreak
Correctional/detention facility is
advised to:
Facilities are required
to report deaths in any person:
*Suspected cases are not
counted towards a facility's COVID-19 death count
until investigated and determined to be a COVID-19
associated death.
For additional
information on reporting COVID-19 associated deaths,
please visit the
COVID-19 Death Reporting Page.