Public Health, Delta & Menominee Counties wants you to know you may be receiving a call from a phone number you do not recognize. This is because someone you know has tested positive for COVID-19 and has recently been within 6 feet of you for more than 10 minutes. You can help keep your friends and family safe by answering this call. These calls will come from trained staff from the following phone numbers: MI COVID HELP, 866-860-3447 or Public Health, Delta & Menominee Counties, 906-786-4111. You may also receive a text message from 25051 prior to the call.

The process of calling all exposed individuals is called contact tracing. Contact tracing exists to inform people that they may have been exposed to a communicable disease, in this case, COVID-19. If you receive a call, you will be given information about your risk of contracting COVID-19 and how to keep others safe. You will also be asked to monitor yourself for symptoms and to seek treatment if you become sick. These calls are completely confidential and the privacy of all patients and contacts will be protected.

The goal of contact tracing is to determine who may have been exposed to COVID-19 and to provide support and assistance, as well as eliminate the spread of this illness. It is not to collect personal information. A contact tracer will never ask for the following information: Social Security Number, driver’s license number, or any information pertaining to any credit cards you may have. If someone calls and asks for your personal identification information, it is likely a scam. If you are contacted for contact tracing, the questions asked will be in regard to recent social contact you may have had.

Contact tracing is a process to help manage the spread of this illness. It has been used for decades to limit disease outbreak. If you receive a call, please do your part and answer. This is the best way to isolate the virus, keep it from spreading, and ultimately, save lives as we begin to slowly reopen our economy.

“For diseases that we don’t have vaccines or antivirals for, such as COVID-19, the contact tracing and case investigation is really one of the hallmarks of public health,” said Public Health Delta & Menominee Counties’ Health Officer Michael Snyder.

If you have questions or concerns about contact tracing, call Public Health, Delta & Menominee Counties at 906-786-4111. Please remember to continue social distancing, handwashing with soap and water, wearing face coverings while in public, and avoiding large gatherings of people.