Information for Public Health
DSHS has provided the below resources for public health professionals investigating possible cases of COVID-19.
On this page:
- Disease Reporting & Case Definitions
- Quarantine & Isolation Precautions for COVID-19
- Laboratory Testing
- Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)
Disease Reporting & Case Definitions
- DSHS COVID-19 Variant Case Guidance (PDF, V.2.0, released 11/01/2021)
- DSHS COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthrough Case Guidance (PDF, V.2.0, released 6/10/2021)
- DSHS COVID-19 Reinfection Guidance (PDF, V.2.0, released 2/24/2022)
- Determining Texas Residency for Immigrants, Refugees, and Detainees (PDF, V.1.0, released 5/26/2020)
- DSHS Case Definition and Investigation Prioritization Guidance (PDF, V.4.0, released 11/01/2021)
- DSHS Epi Case Criteria Guide (PDF, V.3.0, released 11/01/2021)
- DSHS NBS Data Entry Guide (PDF, V.5.0, released 11/17/2021)
- DSHS COVID-19 Case Report Form (PDF, V.4.0, updated 1/30/2021)
Quarantine & Isolation Precautions for COVID-19
- Updated Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations in Response to COVID-19 Vaccination (CDC)
- CDC COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation Guidance for Fully Vaccinated Individuals
- Discontinuation of Isolation for Persons with COVID-19 Not in Healthcare Settings (CDC)
- Duration of Isolation and Precautions for Adults with COVID-19 (CDC)
- CDC Interim Guidance on Discontinuation of Transmission-Based Precautions and Disposition of Patients in Healthcare Settings
- CDC Interim Guidance on Criteria for Return to Work for Healthcare Personnel with Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19
- Public Health Recommendations after Travel-Associated COVID-19 Exposure (CDC)
- Public Health Recommendations for People with Community-Related COVID-19 Exposure (CDC)
- Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with COVID-19 (CDC)
- COVID-19: Updated Health Guidance for Air Carriers and Crews (FAA)
Laboratory Testing
- CDC Guidance for COVID-19 Testing in the Community
- DSHS COVID-19 Specimen Collection and Submission Instructions (PDF, V.8.0, updated 12/16/2020)
- DSHS COVID-19 Antibody Test Specimen Collection and Submission Instructions (PDF, V.4.0, updated 12/22/2020)
- DSHS COVID-19 Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Specimen Collection and Submission Instructions (PDF, V.7.0, updated 7/20/2021)
Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)
- Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) Reporting Process (PDF, V.3.0, updated 7/14/2022)
- Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS) Associated with COVID-19 Case Report Form Instructions (PDF, updated 2/01/2023)
- Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome Associated with COVID-19 Case Report Form (CDC) (PDF, updated 2/01/2023)
This page is being updated as new information becomes available.