(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Illinois Department of Public Health is centralizing contact tracing for positive COVID cases.
Instead of a phone call from a local contact tracer, people with positive cases recorded by the state will receive a text message from IDPH.
It’s part of a plan to ease the burden on local health departments. Ngozi Ezike, the state’s top health official, discussed the change so that people wary of scams will know the State Contact Tracing Surge Center is legit.
Calling the number listed in the notification will be considered opting in to an interview. The state is prioritizing those who are 65 and older and will send another text if people with positive results don’t respond to the first.
The change took effect Tuesday.
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