The Health Department of Northwest Michigan has begun shifting away from universal contact tracing and case investigations to focus on high-priority community groups at risk for outbreak and severe disease and those in congregate settings. This move follows guidance from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services which updated these guidelines statewide. When community transmission is as widespread as it is currently, certain public health measures such as individual case investigation and contact tracing lose some of their effectiveness.
Both the state and federal governments are stepping up measures to make COVID-19 home tests more readily available. At the state level, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Friday that those with health insurance may take advantage of a new federal rule that requires health insurers to cover the cost of eight over the counter COVID-19 home tests per month.?As insurers work to implement this new coverage, citizens should save receipts and boxes for COVID-19 tests purchased beginning on January 15, so they can submit them for future reimbursement, saving a family of four at least $384 a month.
Due to significant case increases as the COVID-19 Omicron variant spreads in Michigan and locally, combined with waning public participation in contact tracing and case investigation, the Health Department of Northwest Michigan pandemic response will begin shifting away from universal contact tracing and case investigations to focus on high priority community groups and those in congregate settings.
