Staunton Star - Times - Published in the Interest of the Staunton Community for Over 143 Years

The Macoupin County Public Health Department continues to serve the residents of Macoupin County in COVID-19 preven- tion efforts, but at this time they are also asking everyone to as- sume individual responsibility

MCPHD

• Administered 27,000 CO- VID-19 vaccinations through their drive-thru clinic in Gil- lespie

• Provides COVID-19 proto- col and guidance to the public • Collaborates with school

districts, congregate settings, businesses to provide guidance • Offers COVID-19 vacci- nations daily at the drive-thru site at 109 E. Maple Street in

Gillespie

• Continues to offer CO-

VID-19 testing

in ensuring public safety. They advise people to share informa- tion regarding any symptoms, positive tests, or exposure with employers, family, friends, and others before spending time with them.

As of Dec. 28, all COVID-19 cases have started receiving an auto message informing them of their quarantine/isolation information. As of Jan. 13, all case investigations (with the exception of those in congre- gate settings) will be sent to the Illinois Department of Public Health Surge Center to help au- tomate the information provided so individuals have quick access to the information.

The Surge Center will be tak- ing over these calls, but if you don’t get a call, that doesn’t mean you don’t need to isolate or

quarantine. If you don’t receive a call, please visit the CDC website https://www.cdc.gov/ coronavirus/2019-ncov/your- health/quarantine-isolation.html or the IDPH website https://dph. illinois.gov/covid19.html for the most up-to-date guidance. Staff members urge the public to do the right thing and follow the guidance, as the case positivity numbers have made it nearly impossible for MCPHD to reach every person affected. They will continue to provide links on Facebook and their website with information that will help guide you as well.

MCPHD will continue to assist the Surge Center in case investigation, prioritizing cases as set by IDPH. MCPHD will continue to work seamlessly with the eight Macoupin County school districts and all congre- gate settings on case investiga- tion as needed. School districts will continue to follow required exclusion guidance from the Il- linois State Board of Education and IDPH.

MCPHD will not provide isolation or quarantine letters for results from at-home test- ing. Under the direction of IDPH, MCPHD can only pro- vide letters for tests performed by CLIA Waived labs, such as clinics, hospitals, doctor’s offices, pharmacies, MCPHD testing sites, etc.

It is important for the safety of your family, friends, yourself and healthcare workers that you choose to stay at home when you are sick or have had a known exposure. You do have the tools to prevent severe illness which include vaccina- tion, boosters, masking, social distancing, handwashing, and disinfectio