COVID-19 DHS Shelter Guidance
As of 3/27/20

No

1) Are you experiencing fever, cough,
shortness of breath, sore throat or flu-like
symptoms

Hospitals/ED for discharge information
please refer to:
DHS COVID-19 Hospital Protocol For
Isolation and Discharge to Shelter for
Homeless Clients

Yes

Proceed with usual DHS
protocol for illness or injury

Is Client
stable?

No

For Clients in
immediate
distress:
Employee calls
911, requests
client be
transported to
nearest H+H
hospital, and calls
receiving ER to let
them know a
suspected
COVID-19 DHS
client is being
transported

Client is taken to
hospital

Do you
have a medical
provider on
site?

No

Medical
Provider
assess for
COVID-19 and
other health
issues

Yes

For Clients that are symptomatic but
stable use one of the following
assessment tools:
l NYC COVID-19 Hot-Line (9AM-9PM)
1-844-692-4692
Press ?0? for COVID hotline.
OR
AmWell Hot-Line (9PM-9AM)

1-844-SEE-DOCS (1-844-733-3627)
When you are asked for the service key,
use NYCHH
Provider on the phone will determine if
patient can stay in shelter, needs
isolation, or needs emergent care.

Client has COVID
like illness (CLI)

Determined no
risk

Patient is taken to
appropriate DHS
isolation facility

Client
remains in
shelter

Client has mild
COVID-like
illness (CLI) and
per your clinical
judgement, does
not need ED, call
SIU for isolation

Client has
COVID-19
complications
(e.g. moderate
shortness of
breath), needs
to go to ER for
evaluation
Medical provider
calls 911, requests
client be
transported to
nearest H+H
hospital, and calls
receiving ER to let
them know a
suspected
COVID-19 DHS
client is being
transported

assessed for need for hospitalization or isolation

Patient is taken to
appropriate DHS
isolation facility

End of isolation

Discharged to shelter
placement

Patient is admitted to
Hospital if exhibiting
serious illness

1) Give client mask
to put on
2) Isolate client in
separate room.

Yes

Medical provider
determines
patient does not
need isolation
because of
absence of
cough, shortness
of breath, sore
throat, fever

Client returns
to shelter

Client is taken to
hospital

Patient is determined to need isolation
Patient is taken to
appropriate DHS
isolation facility

End of isolation
Discharged to shelter
placement, notify
medical provider

Patient is admitted to
Hospital if exhibiting
serious illness