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COVID-19 Public Health Guidance and Directives

Guidance and directives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) related to COVID-19.
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Travelers and Persons in Quarantine

EOHHS Congregate Care Surveillance Testing Guidance

​​​​​EOHHS issued surveillance testing guidance for organizations that operate residential congregate care programs, veteran’s shelters, and residential schools: Updated November 2 - EOHHS Congregate Care Surveillance Testing Guidance (this guidance replaces the October 9 guidance)

Health Care Professionals

DPH guidance for all healthcare workers: Healthcare Personnel: Occupational Exposure & Return to Work Guidance, updated May 7.

Bureau of Health Professions Licensure Licensees

On April 9, Governor Charlie Baker issued two emergency orders to further support the health care workforce and expand its capacity: 

On April 3, the Department of Public Health issued an emergency order expanding the availability of certain health care providers. Guidance: Licensing Changes during State of Emergency.

Clinicians

Clinicians who see patients with recent travel to areas with community transmission of COVID-19  who have a fever, lower respiratory tract symptoms (such as shortness of breath and cough), and/or contact with a known COVID-19 patient, should contact the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) 24/7 at (617) 983-6800 for assistance. Further clinical guidance:

In the event of an outbreak, all hospitals should be prepared for the possible arrival of patients with COVID-19. The CDC Hospital Preparedness Checklist outlines a number of important practices.

Information about referrals to regional isolation and recovery sites is available on COVID-19 Isolation and Recovery Sites.

Lab professionals

On April 7, DPH issued guidance to clinical labs which (1) aligns the Massachusetts exempt test with all tests on the current list of CLIA waived tests; and (2) alleviates the need for certain providers to obtain a clinical laboratory license in order to conduct testing on their own patients. Massachusetts Clinical Laboratory Program – Changes to Exempt Test List and ​Definition of Physician

    Dentists

    Guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Board of Registration in Dentistry (BORID) in response to the Massachusetts COVID-19 State of Emergency. Download: Board of Registration in Dentistry COVID-19 Guidance

    Sexual and Domestic Violence (SDV) service providers

    Physician Assistants

    On March 18, the Department of Public Health issued an order regarding the flexible reassignment of Physicians Assistants: Guidance: Flexible Reassignment of Physician Assistants

    Advanced practice registered nurses (APRN)

    On March 26, the Department of Public Health issued an emergency order addressing independent prescriptive practice for advanced practice registered nurses: Guidance: Independent Practice of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses

    On April 9, Governor Baker issued an emergency order authorizing nursing practice by nursing school graduates and students in their final semester of nursing education programs. Order | Nursing Student Guidance

    School health professionals

    DPH guidance for school nurses and other school personnel:

    Health Care Organizations

    DPH guidance for all healthcare facilities: Updated Anterior Nares (Nasal Swab) Specimen Collection by Unlicensed Healthcare Personnel

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued emergency use authorization (EUA) for two monoclonal antibody therapeutics for treatment of early mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in high-risk patients. Following issuance of the EUAs the federal government has begun to provide doses to states to be administered by intravenous infusion in a monitored healthcare setting. This guidance sets forth expectations for Massachusetts hospitals which elect to receive allocations of these COVID-19 therapeutics: 

    Hospitals

    DPH asks hospitals carefully review guidance from the CDC with all healthcare personnel and continue to prepare to care for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. In addition to sharing important CDC guidance, DPH has also issued guidance to acute and non-acute care hospitals, including: 

    Non-Acute Care Hospitals

    Clinics

    Pharmacies

    Out-Of-Hospital Dialysis Units

    DPH Guidance, November 6: Guidance Regarding Seasonal Influenza Vaccination of Healthcare Personnel at Massachusetts Out-of-Hospital Dialysis Units for the 2020-2021 Influenza Season

    Substance Addiction Service Providers

    DPH guidance:

    Emergency Responders & Law Enforcement

    DPH has shared important CDC guidance and has issued new advisories, emergency waivers and Statewide Treatment Protocols, and updates to administrative requirements for emergency medical services, including:

    Caregivers

    For long term care facilities

    DPH has issued guidance to long term care facilities and has shared important guidance from the CDC, including: 

    For congregate care programs

    Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) issued guidance for organizations that operate congregate care programs and updated this guidance on April 14: April 14 Updated Residential and Congregate Care Guidance.

    This audience includes group homes and residential treatment programs funded, operated, licensed, and/or regulated by:

    • The Department of Early Education and Care (DEEC),
    • Department of Children and Families (DCF),
    • Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA),
    • Department of Youth Services (DYS),
    • Department of Mental Health (DMH),
    • Department of Public Health (DPH),
    • Department of Developmental Services (DDS),
    • Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB), or
    • Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC).

    For assisted living residences

    For Early Intervention Providers

    Guidance for Massachusetts Early Intervention vendor agencies:

    MA EI Telehealth Policy for Specialty Providers:

    For in-home caregivers

    Guidance for agency based in-home caregivers & workers (e.g. Home Health Agencies, Personal Care Management Agencies, Home Care Agencies, Adult Foster Care, etc.): 

    Guidance for agencies working with the DPH Bureau of Family Health and Nutrition:

    Guidance for non-agency based in-home caregivers (e.g. PCAs, Independent Nurses, etc.): 

    For community day programs

    Guidance for community day program settings (e.g. Adult Day Health, Day Habilitation, Clubhouses, Councils on Aging, etc.):

    Businesses

    DPH Guidance:

    Recreational Camps for Children

    EEC, EOE, and DPH Guidance:

    Homeless Shelters

    Guidance and information for homeless shelter providers is available here: Homelessness Support During COVID-19.

    Referral information: COVID-19 Isolation and Recovery Sites

    Local government

    Guidance for Town Meetings to Address COVID-19 PDF | Doc

    Local Boards of Health

    DPH COVID-19 Information for Local Boards of Health includes updates on emergency orders, materials for communicating with the public, and shareable preparedness resources.

    Determination of Need (DON) 

    On March 24, the Department of Public Health issued an emergency order exempting certain activities from determination of need approval, that are necessary to address COVID-19. Updated Guidance (Nov. 24th): Requesting Determination of Need (DoN) Approval for projects related to COVID-19 during the State of Emergency.

    Guidance was issued on April 6 indicating no DoN dates will be assigned during the state of emergency for any application filed on or after March 10, 2020: Notice Regarding Determination of Need Applications Filed During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

    Related

    This is part of: Information on the Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) 

    State of Emergency

    Information and Guidance for Persons in Quarantine due to COVID-19
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