Coronavirus Disease 2019

Disease reporting is an essential part of the public health response to COVID-19. Not only is reporting COVID-19 required by law, reporting helps shape our response as the information is used to detect outbreaks, identify exposures in high risk settings, and inform the allocation of local resources. Timely and complete reporting of fatalities is necessary to characterize and communicate who is at highest risk of dying at home and in the hospital.

Thank you for reporting COVID-19.

• Healthcare providers must report COVID-19 associated deaths and all cases that meet the CDC definition of MIS-C.
• Healthcare providers/clinical facilities conducting point-of-care tests (POCT) must report all positive POCT SARS-CoV-2 results.
• All acute care hospitals (including general and long-term acute care hospitals) are required to provide a daily line list of their COVID-19 positive inpatients. Note: this daily line list satisfies the required reporting of hospitalizations by healthcare providers]

If the patient’s residence is outside Los Angeles County, please do not send a report to LAC DPH. Please see Other Health Jurisdictions reporting information below.

Note that LAC DPH accepts reports of COVID-19, as well as many other diseases, by secure email (see list of conditions reportable by providers).

Facilities certified under CLIA to perform moderate- or high-complexity testing must report the following within one (1) working day:

In addition, all entities performing SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequencing (WGS) and/or molecular sequencing-based surveillance are required to follow the LA County Health Officer Order: SARS-CoV-2 Data Sharing and Reporting (see below). View Reportable Conditions: Notification by Laboratories to see all laboratory reporting requirements.

All laboratories that test LAC residents must register with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) for electronic laboratory reporting (ELR), regardless of the physical location of the laboratory. Information about how to establish an electronic connection with CDPH to route positive and negative COVID results to LACDPH can be found at the CDPH Health Information Exchange Gateway.

Temporary reporting instructions for labs awaiting ELR

1. Register your laboratory with Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, using this form, which can be emailed to Covid19TestQI@ph.lacounty.gov.
2. After receiving registration confirmation, laboratories are required to do the following daily:

For each person tested, laboratories are required to do the following SARS-CoV-2 results daily:

• Fax each positive NAAT and antigen lab result slips to (310) 605-4274.
• Email as a single daily batch a report of all non-positive NAAT and antigen results (e.g. negative, indeterminate) and all serology results (positive and non-positive) using a template that will be emailed after a test file is submitted. The following can be used for guidance in utilizing this template:
  • Follow the file creation, formatting, and submission instructions outlined in the LAC COVID-19 Import Lab Submitters Guide
  • Email the report to COVID19@ph.lacounty.gov using encryption and password-protection.
  • Use LAC Zip Code File to select Los Angeles County residents, excluding Long Beach and Pasadena, which should be reported to those public health departments

Training: Full Video (22 minutes) or download it in 4 parts: Part 1 (Intro), Part 2 (Fields 1-16), Part 3 (Fields 17-32), Part 4 (Conclusion).

SARS-CoV-2 Whole Genome Sequencing
The LA County Health Officer issued an order requiring entities that are performing SARS-CoV-2 sequencing and molecular testing on specimens collected from residents of LA County public health jurisdiction to register with LAC DPH, report information about sequenced samples as directed, report findings of public health significance, and submit specimens upon request. For more information see the Whole Genome Sequencing FAQ. View the LA County Health Officer Order: SARS-CoV-2 Data Sharing and Reporting.

In LA County, all facilities outlined in the County Health Officer Order are required to report clusters of COVID-19 cases.

• Clusters of cases or outbreaks should be reported using the following on-line portal: COVID-19 Suspected Outbreak Facility Reporting Form. Alternatively, they can be reported by phone at 888-397-3993 or 213-240-7821.

COVID-19 must be reported to the jurisdiction where the patient resides.

Long Beach Health and Human Services: see COVID-19 Healthcare Provider website.

Pasadena Public Health Department: see COVID-19 Healthcare Provider Disease Reporting website.

Other health jurisdictions not listed here: Please view the Health Care Providers/Labs reporting contact list maintained by the California Public Health Department (CPDH).