On December 28, 2021, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) began transitioning to a centralized contact tracing system where all individuals who are positive with COVID 19 receive a text message from the IDPH Surge Center. This transition will be complete on January 13, 2022.
As of that date, the Knox County Health Department Contact Tracing Team will move to a more concentrated role to focus on congregate care living spaces, schools, daycares, and outbreak investigations for Knox County, IL. Michele Gabriel, Public Health Administrator for the Knox County Health Department STRONGLY encourages any Knox County resident receiving a text message from the IDPH Surge Center to choose the “opt into” the system.” “Moving forward if you need letters for release for returning to work, school, or for any reason, you will need to request them from this system,” noted Gabriel. If you do not participate in the assessments offered, the system will not generate release letters and the Knox County Health Department cannot issue release letters for you. “We realize that this is a transition which will have far-reaching impacts; including, some which we may not have even discovered yet,” stated Gabriel.
Receiving a text message indicates that your COVID 19 test is positive and has been moved into the contact tracing system. These calls again will originate from IDPH from the number 312-777-1999.
Surge Center will be taking over all calls, but if you don’t get a call, that doesn’t mean you don’t need to isolate or quarantine. If there is no call, you still have the ability to identify what to do so please follow recommendations to protect yourself and others. It is important for our healthcare workers that you choose to stay at home. Those utilizing home tests should also be aware of precautions to take and should be taking them. You do have the tools to prevent severe illness which include vaccination, boosters, masking, social distancing, handwashing, and disinfection.
Knox County Health Department has tried to keep the community informed throughout the pandemic. There are times when the community might like more information or to see specific data but with a small number of staff and continuation of other programs, we have had to maintain a balance. Overall, this department stepped up and stood during the most difficult of circumstances that were before them. It is our role to help provide resources, reliable information, focus efforts on the prevention of illness, and prepare for emergencies. We are very proud of our staff’s efforts and the community partnerships we have gained during the pandemic. We will continue to serve this community in prevention efforts but at this time it has now become your individual responsibility to ensure public safety.
Case numbers and active cases are as high as they have ever been. Knox County remains at 54% fully vaccinated and only 25% of the residents having received their booster dose. County Health Departments do not have enough staff to address all calls that will be coming in from the community. Right now, adjacent county health departments and hospitals are overwhelmed. IDPH determined that centralizing contact tracing may help address the high volume of cases for all health departments.
Health Department staff wanted to share this public message as we move towards a more concentrated role in contact tracing going forward. Not because it isn’t important but because it is now up to you as individuals and families to choose to take care of yourself and others. The Health Department will continue to address calls and concerns that come in; however, please understand that the Surge Center employees are not employees of the Knox County Health Department.
***Report Courtesy of the Knox County Health Department***
