Health official: Contact tracing plays key role in containing COVID-19 transmission

The Health Department of Northwest Michigan Monday reported two new cases of novel coronavirus with primary residences in Antrim and Emmet counties.

With the two new cases, the health department now has a total of 213 confirmed COVID-19 cases in its four-county (Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties) jurisdiction, including 27 in Antrim, 36 in Charlevoix, 41 in Emmet and 109 in Otsego County.

Case investigations and contact tracing is in progress regarding the two new cases, and more information will be shared when it becomes available.

“An important part in containing transmission is the availability of the local health department to investigate cases and trace contacts,” said Lisa Peacock, health officer with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan. “Both departments (Health Department of Northwest Michigan and the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department) are taking additional steps in capacity in this area.”

Peacock said throughout the pandemic the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has taken steps to strengthen support for local health department’s capacity for contact tracing.

“We are very grateful for these options which will allow us to opt in for the use of new and more efficient technology platform as well as the support of a volunteer workforce of more than 400 contact tracers,” Peacock said.

The health department asks residents who have been tested to be prepared to answer or return a call to begin contact tracing and case investigation. To break the chain of infection and slow the spread of the virus, the health department along with the state of Michigan and other local health departments rely on a three-part strategy — test, trace, and protect.

Dr. Josh Meyerson, medical director of the Health Department of Northwest Michigan, said when contact tracing is performed, they try to determine all close contacts and mitigating factors are looked at including whether they indoors or outdoors.

“In general the guideline is a close contact is someone who has been within 6 feet of someone for 15 minutes or longer,” Meyerson said.

“When we do that for purposes of our case investigation, we know that wearing a mask will reduce the risk, but it does not change whether they were a close contact or not. It’s regardless of masks are being worn or not.”

The health department said it relies on those who receive positive test results to answer calls so we they complete their case investigation, contact tracing, and provide those contacts with isolation guidance in order to protect communities from further spread.

On Friday, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed executive order No. 2020-153, which included minor changes to the previous masking executive order.

The order says retailers and other business owners may not assume customers who are not wearing a mask are doing so for medical reasons. In the order, Whitmer also said wearing a face mask will not be required for in-person voting, but it is “strongly encouraged.”

Whitmer’s earlier mask order, issued July 10, requires Michigan residents to wear face coverings in indoor public spaces and crowded outdoor public places and orders businesses to refuse service or entry to people who refuse to wear a face covering, with limited exceptions.

“Masks are inexpensive and, if we all wear them, they are an easy way to allow us to continue doing the things we like to do,” Meyerson said. “Masks play an important role in preventing the spread of the virus.”

For more information, visit www.nwhealth.org.