Reporting COVID-19, Influenza, and Gastrointestinal Illness

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Disease Reporting Line:
(808) 586-4586

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COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 Virus)

Symptoms Incubation PeriodReporting Process for Schools
No symptoms or a wide variety of symptoms of variable severity including:
Cough, sore throat, and other respiratory symptoms with or without fever 		Usually 2–14 days after exposure DOE School Staff:
  1. Input all positive cases into the DOE Case Reporting Tool (CRT)
  2. Contact DOH for support with outbreaks when positive cases and related probable cases combined are greater than 10% for entire school OR greater than 20% for one grade or classroom.
Public Charter & Independent School and DHS Facilities Staff:
  1. Required to report COVID-19 illness to the DOH when positive cases and probable cases combined are greater than 10% for entire school OR greater than 20% for one grade or classroom.
  2. Use the Outbreak Reporting Tool (ORT) account for school: ORT Account Information
  3. For assistance with an outbreak of cases, call the Disease Reporting Line at 808-586-4586 (option 4) or email [email protected] for additional guidance.

Influenza-like Illness (ILI)/Influenza (FLU)

Symptoms Incubation PeriodReporting Process for Schools
Symptoms can include:
Cough or sore throat with an accompanying fever or history of fever 		Usually 1–4 days after exposureDOE Schools
  1. Required to report outbreaks of Influenza Like Illness (ILI) criteria (fever with cough and/or sore throat) to the DOH when positive influenza cases and related probable cases combined are greater than 10% for entire school OR greater than 20% for one grade or classroom.
  2. To report ILI school outbreaks to HDOH, please email the School ILI Outbreak Form and the School ILI Line List to [email protected]
Public Charter School, Independent School, and DHS Facilities Staff:
  1. Required to report ILI to the DOH when positive cases and related probable cases combined are greater than 10% for entire school OR greater than 20% for one grade or classroom.
  2. Use the Outbreak Reporting Tool (ORT) account for school: ORT Account Information
  3. For assistance with an outbreak of cases, call the Disease Reporting Line at 808-586-4586 (option 4) or email [email protected] for additional guidance.
If you are not sure if the ILI activity in your school needs to be reported, please contact the Disease Reporting Line at (808) 586-4586. ILI activity in schools is immediately reportable, so please do not hesitate to call. DOH personnel will assist you in determining how to proceed with your particular situation.

During the outbreak, DOH personnel will be able to assist you in preventing further spread of infection in your school. We will send you free kits to swab your students for influenza and other respiratory virus testing. You may be able to work closely with your public health nurse or Disease Investigation Branch personnel to collect specimens for testing at the Hawaii State Laboratories Division.

Once the specimens have been tested, we will know if your school has an influenza outbreak or an outbreak of another respiratory virus. In the event of a confirmed respiratory virus (including influenza) outbreak, DOH personnel will provide you with materials you may need to encourage students to stay at home and practice good hygiene. This will prevent the outbreak from spreading further.

Gastrointestinal Illness (GI) or Suspected Norovirus Outbreaks

Symptoms Incubation PeriodReporting Process for Schools
Symptoms can include:
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • abdominal pain/cramps
Norovirus:
12-48 hrs.

Other GI Illness: variable (link)
DOE Schools
  1. Required to report outbreaks of gastrointestinal (GI) or suspected norovirus criteria (vomiting and/or diarrhea) to the DOH when:
    • Two or more cases of GI illness within 24 hours among student/staff who share an exposure or are close contacts AND do not live in the same household OR
    • Student absenteeism doubles due to GI illness, exceeding the normal rate for the time period based on school records
  2. To report GI or suspected norovirus outbreaks to DOH, please email the School GI Outbreak Form and the School GI Line List to [email protected]
Public Charter School, Independent School, and DHS Facilities Staff:
  1. Required to report outbreaks of gastrointestinal (GI) or suspected norovirus criteria (vomiting and/or diarrhea) to the DOH when:
    • Two or more cases of GI illness within 24 hours among student/staff who share an exposure or are close contacts AND do not live in the same household OR
    • Student absenteeism doubles due to GI illness, exceeding the normal rate for the time period based on school records
  2. To report GI or suspected norovirus outbreaks to DOH, please use the Outbreak Reporting Tool (ORT): ORT Account Information
For assistance with an outbreak of cases, call the Disease Reporting Line at 808-586-4586 (option 4) or email [email protected] for additional guidance.
If you are not sure if the GI activity in your school needs to be reported, please contact the Disease Reporting Line at (808) 586-4586. HDOH personnel will assist you in determining how to proceed.

During the outbreak, DOH personnel will be able to assist you in preventing further spread of infection in your school, by providing reference to cleaning recommendations and materials you may need to encourage students to stay at home and practice good hygiene. This will prevent the outbreak from spreading further.

Report an Infectious Disease

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To report an illness, please contact the Department of Health at these numbers:

Oahu (Disease Reporting Line): (808) 586-4586
Maui District Health Office: (808) 984-8213
Kauai District Health Office: (808) 241-3563
Hawaii Health Office: (808) 933-0912
After hours (Physician’s Exchange): (808) 600-3625 or Toll Free 1-800-360-2575

Last Reviewed: July 2023