Protecting First Responders While Maintaining Personal Privacy During the COVID-19 Pandemic: One County's Approach

In this case study, the authors discuss a special situation infectious disease alert process for first responders. Issues explored include the development of this infectious disease alert process and legal issues that the DuPage County Health Department addressed to share protected health information between public health and public safety. The authors illustrate the important relationship between a local health department and its legal counsel as they balanced the needs of different stakeholder groups and identified a solution that satisfied both without infringing on individual privacy. The case study closes with a discussion regarding the value of multisector collaborations and opportunities to improve information sharing between sectors.