MARION COUNTY, Ohio – The number of new COVID-19 cases continues to rise at an alarming rate in Marion County and across Ohio. Marion Public Health staff and contact tracers are working tirelessly seven days a week to try to keep up with spike in COVID-19 positivity. However, this surge is straining the capacity of staff to conduct all aspects of contact tracing. Marion Public Health has reevaluated how we are currently doing contact tracing and as a result we will be implementing new procedures that align with state guidance.
MPH will focus exclusively on conducting the first step in contact tracing: interviews with lab confirmed cases of COVID-19. As MPH completes those interviews, we will provide guidance for them to identify and notify their close contacts. Additionally, MPH will provide guidance to employers and schools which will include instructions for quarantining and returning to work or school. Marion Public Health will no longer issue isolation and quarantine letters. Following this state guidance will allow us to best use our available resources and effectively minimize the community spread of COVID-19. Our website will be a resource for this information for all of our residents.
Marion Public Health is asking everyone show their COVID Courage by staying home and staying safe as much as possible. If you are out in the community please properly wear a mask, stay 6 feet away from people not in your household, wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer as a temporary alternative, and limit any unnecessary travel.
Information is being shared as it becomes available on the following websites: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus, www.coronavirus.ohio.gov, Covid19.marionpublichealth.org
People with questions about COVID-19 can call the Ohio Department of Health COVID-19 Call Center, 7 days a week from 9AM – 8PM at: 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).