residents of such facilities, family of such residents, the State long-term care ombudsman (established under title III or VII of the Older Americans Act of 1965 in accordance with section 712 of the Act), or the general public to report violations of requirements of this section by such facilities. The Secretary shall establish a process under which each violation so reported shall be preliminarily investigated by a State survey and certification agency (described in subsection (f) of section 1128I) and based on the results of such preliminary investigation may be subject to a subsequent more comprehensive investigation by such agency, in coordination with the Secretary. . (C) Increased penalties Section 1819(h) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395i–3(h) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (7) Special rules during COVID–19 emergency period and other infectious disease outbreak periods (A) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, during an infectious disease outbreak period (as defined in subsection (g)(2)(F)(ii)), with respect to a State, the following shall apply: (i) In the cases of an outbreak specific violation, a civil monetary penalty under paragraph (2)(B)(ii)(I) may not be waived or reduced by the Secretary. (ii) In the case of a repeat deficiency relating to any violation of a skilled nursing facility during a 15-month period, any civil monetary penalty under paragraph (2)(B)(ii)(I), shall be doubled. (iii) In the case of a second outbreak specific violation of a skilled nursing facility during such period, the facility shall be treated as being identified by the Secretary (or may be identified by the top State health official, in accordance with a process specified by the Secretary) as having substantially failed to meet applicable requirement of this Act for purposes of subsection (f)(8) for the remainder of such period. (B) Outbreak specific violation For purposes of this paragraph, the Secretary, through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid