References

“Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) | 2020 Interim Case Definition, Approved April 5, 2020.” Accessed May 26, 2021. https://wwwn.cdc.gov/nndss/conditions/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/case-definition/2020/
CDC. “Health Departments.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, February 11, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing/contact-tracing-plan/appendix.html.
CDC. "Interim Guidance for Implementing Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19." Accessed May 26, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/critical-workers-implementing-safety-practices.pdf
“Contact Tracing in the Context of COVID-19.” Accessed May 26, 2021. https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/contact-tracing-in-the-context-of-covid-19.
“Public Health Surveillance for COVID-19: Interim Guidance.” Accessed May 26, 2021. https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/who-2019-nCoV-surveillanceguidance-2020.8.

Definitions

Data Element	Definition
COVID Suspected	WHO Suspected case of SARS-CoV-2 infection (three options, A through C): A. A person who meets the clinical AND epidemiological criteria: Clinical criteria: Acute onset of fever AND cough; OR Acute onset of ANY THREE OR MORE of the following signs or symptoms: fever, cough, general weakness/fatigue,1 headache, myalgia, sore throat, coryza, dyspnea, anorexia/nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, altered mental status. AND Epidemiological criteria: Residing or working in a setting with high risk of transmission of the virus: for example, closed residential settings and humanitarian settings, such as camp and camp like settings for displaced persons, any time within the 14 days before symptom onset; OR Residing in or travel to an area with community transmission anytime within the 14 days before symptom onset; OR Working in health setting, including within health facilities and within households, anytime within the 14 days before symptom onset. B. A patient with severe acute respiratory illness (SARI: acute respiratory infection with history of fever or measured fever of ≥ 38 C°; and cough; with onset within the last 10 days; and who requires hospitalization). C. An asymptomatic person not meeting epidemiologic criteria with a positive SARS-CoV-2 antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic test (Ag-RDT).
COVID Exposure	CDC One or more of the following exposures in the 14 days before onset of symptoms: Close contact with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 disease; OR Close contact with a person with: clinically compatible illness AND linkage to a confirmed case of COVID-19 disease. Travel to or residence in an area with sustained, ongoing community transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Member of a risk cohort as defined by public health authorities during an outbreak. Close contact is defined as being within 6 feet for at least a period of 10 minutes to 30 minutes or more depending upon the exposure. In healthcare settings, this may be defined as exposures of greater than a few minutes or more. Data are insufficient to precisely define the duration of exposure that constitutes prolonged exposure and thus a close contact. WHO** A person who has experienced any one of the following exposures during the 2 days before and the 14 days after the onset of symptoms of a probable or confirmed case: Face-to-face contact with a probable or confirmed case within 1 meter and for at least 15 minutes Direct physical contact with a probable or confirmed case Direct care for a patient with probable or confirmed COVID-19 disease without the use of recommended personal protective equipment OR Other situations as indicated by local risk assessments
COVID Confirmed	CDC Clinical Criteria At least two of the following symptoms: fever (measured or subjective), chills, rigors, myalgia, headache, sore throat, new olfactory and taste disorder(s) OR At least one of the following symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing OR Severe respiratory illness with at least one of the following: Clinical or radiographic evidence of pneumonia, OR Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). AND No alternative more likely diagnosis Laboratory Criteria Laboratory evidence using a method approved or authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or designated authority: *Confirmatory laboratory evidence:* Detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 ribonucleic acid (SARS-CoV-2 RNA) in a clinical specimen using a molecular amplification detection test *Presumptive laboratory evidence:* Detection of specific antigen in a clinical specimen Detection of specific antibody in serum, plasma, or whole blood indicative of a new or recent infection* *Serologic methods for diagnosis are currently being defined. WHO Confirmed case of SARS-CoV-2 infection (three options, A through C): A person with a positive Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) A person with a positive SARS-CoV-2 Ag-RDT AND meeting either the probable case definition or suspected criteria A OR B An asymptomatic person with a positive SARS-CoV-2 Ag-RDT AND who is a contact of a probable or confirmed case.

Data Element

Definition

COVID Suspected

WHO

Suspected case of SARS-CoV-2 infection (three options, A through C):

A. A person who meets the clinical AND epidemiological criteria:

Clinical criteria:

Acute onset of fever AND cough;

Acute onset of ANY THREE OR MORE of the following signs or symptoms: fever, cough, general weakness/fatigue,1 headache, myalgia, sore throat, coryza, dyspnea, anorexia/nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, altered mental status.

AND

Epidemiological criteria:

Residing or working in a setting with high risk of transmission of the virus: for example, closed residential settings and humanitarian settings, such as camp and camp like settings for displaced persons, any time within the 14 days before symptom onset;

Residing in or travel to an area with community transmission anytime within the 14 days before symptom onset;

Working in health setting, including within health facilities and within households, anytime within the 14 days before symptom onset.

B. A patient with severe acute respiratory illness (SARI: acute respiratory infection with history of fever or measured fever of ≥ 38 C°; and cough; with onset within the last 10 days; and who requires hospitalization).

C. An asymptomatic person not meeting epidemiologic criteria with a positive SARS-CoV-2 antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic test (Ag-RDT).

COVID Exposure

CDC

One or more of the following exposures in the 14 days before onset of symptoms:

Close contact** with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 disease; OR
Close contact** with a person with:
- clinically compatible illness AND
- linkage to a confirmed case of COVID-19 disease.
Travel to or residence in an area with sustained, ongoing community transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
Member of a risk cohort as defined by public health authorities during an outbreak.

**Close contact is defined as being within 6 feet for at least a period of 10 minutes to 30 minutes or more depending upon the exposure. In healthcare settings, this may be defined as exposures of greater than a few minutes or more. Data are insufficient to precisely define the duration of exposure that constitutes prolonged exposure and thus a close contact.

WHO

A person who has experienced any one of the following exposures during the 2 days before and the 14 days after the onset of symptoms of a probable or confirmed case:

Face-to-face contact with a probable or confirmed case within 1 meter and for at least 15 minutes
Direct physical contact with a probable or confirmed case
Direct care for a patient with probable or confirmed COVID-19 disease without the use of recommended personal protective equipment

Other situations as indicated by local risk assessments

COVID Confirmed

CDC

Clinical Criteria

At least two of the following symptoms: fever (measured or subjective), chills, rigors, myalgia, headache, sore throat, new olfactory and taste disorder(s)

At least one of the following symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing

Severe respiratory illness with at least one of the following:

Clinical or radiographic evidence of pneumonia, OR
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

AND

No alternative more likely diagnosis

Laboratory Criteria

Laboratory evidence using a method approved or authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or designated authority:

Confirmatory laboratory evidence:

Detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 ribonucleic acid (SARS-CoV-2 RNA) in a clinical specimen using a molecular amplification detection test

Presumptive laboratory evidence:

Detection of specific antigen in a clinical specimen
Detection of specific antibody in serum, plasma, or whole blood indicative of a new or recent infection*

*Serologic methods for diagnosis are currently being defined.

WHO

Confirmed case of SARS-CoV-2 infection (three options, A through C):

A person with a positive Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT)
A person with a positive SARS-CoV-2 Ag-RDT AND meeting either the probable case definition or suspected criteria A OR B
An asymptomatic person with a positive SARS-CoV-2 Ag-RDT AND who is a contact of a probable or confirmed case.

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