Health Department of Northwest Michigan is handling over 50 new cases of COVID-19 daily in Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, and Otsego (total) each day — compared to single digit new cases each day in the summer. This increase means that even with additional staff working full time on case investigations we are not able to investigate confirmed cases or notify close contacts as quickly as we’d like.

As a result, you might not get a call right away. That’s why we need everyone’s help to follow isolation and quarantine precautions. -As soon as you know you are positive, start isolating.

Isolation guidance can be found here: http://ow.ly/Bb5p50Ck3DT-Notify your close contacts, and advise them to quarantine.

Quarantine guidance can be found here: http://ow.ly/31oF50Ck3K4-If you know you are a close contact, start self-quarantine.

Following these steps will help curb the spread to others. We want to thank our staff, and everyone who is working hard in our community to protect others!