Arizona Schools, Shelters Must Report Coronavirus Outbreaks

ARIZONA — Arizona schools, shelters and child care centers will now be required to report any coronavirus outbreaks to their local health departments, according to an emergency measure issued by the state late Monday. The measure aims to improve public health response to beat back the virus.

According to a news release from the Arizona Department of Health Services, this requirement will apply to public schools, charter schools and private schools with students from kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as child care establishments and shelters. Those facilities are already required to report other viral outbreaks, like the measles or chicken pox.

“Schools, child care centers, and shelters have always worked with public health and have been among the best reporters of communicable disease information,” Dr. Cara Christ, director of ADHS, said in a statement. “This emergency measure addresses the serious threat COVID-19 poses to our communities and allows public health and our schools to work together to keep our kids safe.”

The state defines an outbreak as "two or more laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 within a 14-day period among individuals who are epidemiologically linked, do not share a household, and are not close contacts of each other in another setting." Outbreaks should be reported within 24 hours.

Officials said this measure will better help Arizona schools navigate safely reopening.

“Procedures on how to report and handle cases of COVID-19 will help schools as they navigate this most unprecedented school year,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman. “This emergency measure gives schools the instructions they need to correctly report cases as we head further into the new academic year.”

The issue comes as Arizona's coronavirus cases and deaths continue to decline, as does its number of hospitalizations with a COVID-like illness. As of Tuesday morning, the state reported 859 new cases and 21 known deaths.