Marion County Health Department Administrator Melissa Mallow says the shifting of most COVID-19 contact tracing from the county level to an Illinois Department of Public Health Surge Center will limit some information they are able to provide.
Mallow says they will no longer be able to provide daily COVID-19 data via social media or other means. However, that information will be available through the Illinois Department of Public Health and the CDC COVID-19 tracker. She will continue to provide a weekly number of deaths related to COVID-19.
The health department will no longer be able to initiate contact with employers with information on positive employees or be able to provide documentation on isolation or quarantine release. Schools will continue to investigate positive cases in schools and identify and exclude close contacts guided by two state Executive Orders. Close contacts of school cases would be tracked by the school outside the IDPH Surge Center.
Mallow says the changes will allow local health departments to focus efforts on specific issues, including new positive cases from congregate care facilities and investigating outbreaks at daycares, schools, and workplaces. The IDPH Surge Center will be the primary contact on all other cases.
The Centers will send text messages encouraging COVID positive cases to call the IDPH as well as providing a link to view isolation information and resources. The IDPH Surge Center will prioritize case investigations for individuals who are 65 years and older and are at a higher risk of severe illness.
Mallow says the Marion County Health Department values the efforts of our community partners to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and we will continue to support such activities. She apologizes for any inconvenience caused by these changes but says they remain resolute in helping Marion County residents address pandemic challenges.
