HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – The Hill County Health Department has announced that they are making significant changes to their contact tracing and case investigation procedures for COVID-19, beginning Monday, January 31st.
In a press release, the Health Department says they will now be contacting lab-identified positive cases via text message, which will include a link to a secure web-based survey where individuals will complete their case investigation. The web form will gather patient information and provide instructions on how to properly isolate.
The information collected in the secure HIPAA-compliant web forms will be used for contact tracing and epidemiological purposes only. Case investigation by phone call will remain available for people who do not have internet access or for those who would prefer to complete the investigation with a staff member.
These changes have been made due to rising case numbers and a decrease in staffing. They were recommended by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and Montana DPHHS due to the wide availability of safe and effective vaccines, better understanding of the virus, and the emergence of the more infectious Omicron variant.
The release says case investigations and contact tracing from public health officials remains a vital, well-established method for the control of other communicable diseases, such as measles, tuberculosis, hepatitis A, HIV, and other STDs.
Public health will continue to evaluate the optimal control strategies for COVID as the response evolves and will make strategic changes to prevent or reduce transmission.
Information courtesy of the Hill County Health Department
