Dodge County COVID-19 Contact Investigation and Tracing may be Delayed
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Because of the increased number of COVID-19 cases in the county, Dodge County Public Health Services does not have the staff members needed to keep up with the demand for investigation and contact tracing. Those individuals that test positive for COVID-19 and who are close contacts may not be contacted in timely manner.

The Minnesota Department of Health Regional System provides backup investigation for Dodge County Public Health but is currently overloaded also.

Some new cases and their contacts may not receive a phone call from Dodge County Public Health for several days.

Therefore, if you receive a positive COVID-19 test, Dodge County Public Health asks you to:

  1. Stay home for at least 10 days since your first symptoms and, before you go out, be sure you have not had a fever for at least 24 hours. That means you are not using medicine to reduce the fever. Also, your symptoms should have improved for at least 24 hours.
  2. Make a list of people you had contact with beginning two days before you noticed your symptoms.
  3. Contact those people and tell them you have tested positive for COVID-19 and explain to them to stay home for 14 days from when they last were in close contact with you. They should get COVID-19 testing five to seven days from when they last were in close contact with you.
  4. Contact your employer, school, and/or childcare about your diagnosis.
  5. Avoid contact with others, even those in your household.
  6. Seek professional medical care if needed, by calling your healthcare provider or 911 if it is a medical emergency.
More information about the pandemic is available at www.co.dodge.mn.us/departments/public_health.php