COVID-19

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health Coronavirus information, including information on:

• STARTS: Strategic Toolkit Advising the Return to School developed by the Harvard School of Public Health becomes available
• COVID-19 School and Community Resource Library
• About COVID-19
• Cases, Quarantine and Monitoring
• COVID-19 Test Site Locator
• Prevention and Treatment
• State of Emergency
• Guidance and Directives
• Preparation in Massachusetts
• Travel Information
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Guidance for Requesting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Printable Fact Sheets
• Emotional health and well-being resources

MA General Practice Guidance, Directives and Resources

• Guidance on Prioritization of PPE in MA
• Health Care Professionals & Organizations
• Education
• Business & Employment
• State and Local Government
• Emergency Responders & Law Enforcement
• Caregivers
• Insurance
• Other Guidance

COVID-19 Updates and Information

• Reopening Massachusetts: Baker-Polito Administration Initiates Transition to Second Phase of Four-Phase Approach
• Daily Updates
• Updates from Governor Baker and state officials:
  • Video Updates
  • Press Releases
• Governor Baker Releases New Details
• Statewide Advisory
• Testing Persons with Suspect COVID-19 
• COVID-19 Cases in MA, Quarantine and Monitoring
• Sign up to text message alerts: Send COVIDMA to 888-777

MA Governmental Orders and Legislation

• Legislation Providing Civil Immunity to Physicians During the COVID-19 Crisis passed.
• Governor Charlie Baker announced a stay at home order for all Massachusetts residents to stay put except for essential services. — https://www.mass.gov/news/governor-charlie-baker-orders-all-non-essential-businesses-to-cease-in-person-operation
• Updates, emergency orders, and guidance associated with the COVID-19 State of Emergency – https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-state-of-emergency
• Baker-Polito Administration Announces Changes To Expedite Health Care Licensing, Increase Support For Local Boards Of Health And Small Businesses – https://www.mass.gov/news/baker-polito-administration-announces-changes-to-expedite-health-care-licensing-increase

Other Massachusetts Resources

• Community Catalyst
• Early Intervention – Update for families receiving Early Intervention (EI)
• Health Care for All
• Massachusetts Children’s Alliance
• Massachusetts General Hospital COVID Library
• The Massachusetts Hospital Association – COVID-19 information
• The Massachusetts Medical Society – COVID-19 information page
• Massachusetts Public Health Association
• MA Small Business Loan Information
• Massachusetts State News Service
• Massachusetts 2-1-1
• We All Need Help Sometimes – Public Information Campaign Graphics
• WIC

The AAP has established a web page on AAP.org  where you can find the latest clinical guidance, recommendations from CDC, information for parents and other resources. This page will be updated daily as new information is available.
Click here to find:

• AAP COVID Vaccine Toolkit
• AAP COVID Vaccine FAQs
• AAP Issues Statement In Favor Of Bringing Children Back To The Classroom This Fall
• AAP interim guidance on school re-entry focuses on mitigating COVID-19 risks
• The Role Of Children In Transmitting SARS-CoV-2 Remains Uncertain –
• Children With Suspected COVID-19-Related Syndrome Need Immediate Attention, Physicians Say
• Guidance on the Necessary Use of Telehealth During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Presidents Of AAP And AMA Urge Parents To Not Skip Well-Child Visits Or Vaccines During The Pandemic
• Experts In UK, Italy Warn Of Possible Connection Between COVID-19 And Inflammatory Disease In Children
• By Year’s End, Up To 50,000 Children In US May Be Hospitalized With COVID-19, Study Suggests
• AAP Recommends Well Child Visits Continue, If Possible, During Pandemic, Especially For Children Under Age Two Needing Routine Vaccines
• Guidance on Providing Pediatric Ambulatory Services via Telehealth during COVID-19
• Clinical guidance
• AAP COVID-19 Clinical Guidance Q&A
• AAP COVID-19 outbreak overview
• AAP recommendations to provide routine preventive and sick care during this pandemic 
• AAP Pediatric Practice Management Tips During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Information on PPE
• Telemedicine and telephone care resources
• Coding information
• Information for families
• Physician wellness tips

REMINDER – Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched an online portal for pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgeons to apply for financial relief from the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund. 

Critical Updates on COVID-19 – AAP confirmed developments related to its global spread and guidance with members.

AAP COVID-19 Dedicated Email – For member inquiries, questions, or comments related to COVID-19 pandemic

AAP Discussion Board on COVID-19– for feedback from your colleagues around the country on these topic areas:  clinical (inpatient and outpatient), diagnosis/testing, PPE, practice management and telehealth

AAP Webinars on COVID-19:

• Telehealth and COVID-19: Offering tips on how to launch telehealth into practice.
• Caring for Children with Complex Medical Conditions During COVID-19: Helping clinicians understand special considerations for children with complex needs, how to prepare your clinic/practice, and how to partner with and support families.
• COVID-19 Pandemic – Clinical Guidance for Pediatric Practices: Strategies for pediatricians to increase infection control practices in their office to protect patients and health care workers.
• Talking to and Supporting Children During a Pandemic: Helping clinicians understand how to talk to and support children during the COVID-19 pandemic, including how to help parents talk to their children.
• Disaster Management for the Pediatrician in the COVID-19 Response: Utilizing preparedness principles to mobilize pediatricians to adapt protocols, learn new models, and serve as champions for children in a pandemic.
• AAP Summary of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
  • AAP News: Federal officials: Pediatric practices will receive
    funding through CARES Act
• AAP News: Coronavirus disease outbreak coverage

AAP Red Book Online: 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infections

AAP-HealthyChildren.org

• Small Business Guidance for Pediatric Practices
• Payment Protection Program application
• What’s in the Coronavirus Stimulus Bill
• The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act 
• Telehealth in Massachusetts during COVID-19 Public Health Emergency http://www.massmed.org/covid-19/#.XpCw0NNKii4
• State Notices on Telehealth Policy in Response to COVID-19
• AAP Guidance: Telehealth Payer Policy in Response to COVID-19
• Telehealth Compendium
• Telehealth Coding Factsheet
• Updated coding/payor guidance
• National AAP Coding Guidance
• Coding for COVID-19 and Non-Direct Care
• AAP Online Compendium on Telehealth Care and After Hours Care
• Telehealth Care and After Hours Care
• Webinar Recording – “Telehealth and COVID-19”

• Guidance on Prioritization of PPE in MA
• CDC updates guidance on use of personal protective equipment (PPE), March 11:

• Help Children Understand Coronavirus: Tips from the President of the American Academy of Pediatrics
• Another example practice communication to parents RE: well/sick visit protocols
• Parenting in a Time of COVID-19
• Explaining Coronavirus To Kids Podcast
• Healthychildren.org has a constantly updated page on coronavirus and a new resource on social distancing. We also offer new tips for helping parents find ways to occupy children during these challenging times.
• Example practice communication to parents
• Talking to and Supporting Children During A Pandemic – Helping clinicians understand how to talk to and support children during the COVID-19 pandemic, including how to help parents talk to their children.
• Information for Families of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
• Parenting in a Time of COVID-19
• COVID-19 in children: the link in the transmission chain
• Clinical and epidemiological features of 36 children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Zhejiang, China: an observational cohort study

• Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
• Coronavirus Disease 2019 Homepage
• Information for Healthcare Professionals
• 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.
• Guidance for clinicians caring for patients with COVID-19
• Updated infection prevention and control guidance specific to COVID-19
• CDC’sInformation for Healthcare Professionals 
• CDC updates guidance on use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
• World Health Organization
  • Mental health and psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak

STARTS: Strategic Toolkit Advising the Return to School developed by the Harvard School of Public Health becomes available

The MCAAP School Reopening Task Force presents:

Updated MCAAP Policy on Safe In-Person Learning – 2/26/2021
MCAAP Statement on School Sports – 1/13/2021
AAP Return to Play Guidance – 3/24/2022
Youth Athlete Return to Play Letter – 1/13/2021

FAQs on COVID-19 Testing Types (English) – 9/29/2020
          Haitian Creole
          Portuguese
          Spanish
          Vietnamese
          Chinese

Parent FAQs about School Reopening, COVID and Mask Wearing (English) – Generic Printable Return To School Letter Template – UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Return to School EPIC EHR Letter Template – UPDATE IN PROGRESS

          Haitian Creole
          Portuguese
          Spanish
          Vietnamese
          Chinese

Generic Printable Return To School Letter Template – UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Return to School EPIC EHR Letter Template – UPDATE IN PROGRESS

DPH/DESE flowsheet

More Information

Local Press
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
MCAAP Policy Statement and School Reopening Statements from other organizations
Massachusetts Child and Youth Serving Programs Reopen Approach
COVID-19 School and Community Resource Library
AAP Back-to-School Guidance