Long Term Care Outbreak Reporting

Long-Term Care Outbreak Reporting and Resource Hub

 The Montgomery County Public Health Code requires that all outbreaks of reportable diseases and unusual clusters of disease be reported to the Montgomery County Office of Public Health (MCOPH). MCOPH provides surveillance, outbreak recommendations, and infection prevention guidance to the facility to support the management and prevention of disease spread. Outbreak definitions and recommendations differ by disease.

Below is guidance for reporting and recommendations for COVID-19, Influenza, and Suspect Norovirus outbreaks.  

For other clusters and outbreaks for reportable infectious disease or healthcare-associated infections, please contact MCOPH at 610-278-5117 from 8:00 am to 4:30-pm Monday through Friday.

Long-Term Care Outbreak Reporting for COVID-19, Influenza, and Suspected Norovirus

Please use the Long Term Care Reporting Form to notify the Office of Public Health of an outbreak of COVID-19, Influenza-like illness, or suspected norovirus. The Long Term Care Reporting Form is only for facility nursing and administration staff to report COVID-19, Influenza, and Suspect Norovirus. An MCOPH staff member will contact the facility to discuss the next steps and recommendations within 1 business day. 

  1. COVID-19
  2. Influenza-Like Illness
  3. Suspected Norovirus

A COVID-19 outbreak is defined as the occurrence of one or more cases of COVID-19 in a long-term care facility that meet the following criteria:

  • New nursing home onset of COVID-19 OR
  • New onset of COVID-19 in a healthcare worker who was working in the facility while infectious (during the 2 days prior to symptom onset or positive test, if asymptomatic)

Identification of a single new case 14 days after the last known case would meet criteria for a new outbreak and promote the need for a new outbreak response. 

Resources: