An area health department is changing a procedure regarding COVID-19 notifications.

According to a release from Administrator JoAnn Martin, the volume of new cases is straining the ability of the Pettis County Health Center to keep up with notifying positive cases and contacts. Health center staff members are trying their best, but they know that there is an increasing delay in calling people, as well as getting letters sent.

In an attempt to streamline the process, Martins says, “We will no longer be providing individual letters for each person who is positive or is identified as a close contact. Instead, we will send an e-mail to each employer with the positive cases and contacts who identify the employer and ask us to communicate with you. On the list will be a column for positive cases along with (the) anticipated release-from-isolation date and a column for contacts with their release date. We will continue to call the positive cases prior to their release date to make sure the individual meets the criteria for release from isolation. If a person needs to be extended, we will notify you by e-mail. The new procedure will begin on Monday, November 16.”

Martin also says, “I understand that the letters are a validation for your records, however they are time consuming and resource intensive. We have gone through 1,500 sheets of letterhead in a little over two weeks for letters that are scanned and then filed.”

If you have any questions, contact the health center at (660) 827-1130.