Macomb County Health Department urges residents to answer phone for COVID-19 help

MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – The Macomb County Health Department said it is reaching out to residents and other Michiganders who have tested positive for COVID-19, as well as to the contacts of those individuals.

County and state health officials want to check on their health status, provide information about COVID-19 and actions people should be taking, help locate needed services and track the spread of the infection in the community.

“We have all been conditioned to avoid answering the phone if we do not recognize the number of the person calling, but during this time, a call from your local health department could be someone offering you important information regarding your health,” said William Ridella, director/health officer of the Macomb County Health Department. “We ask Macomb County residents to please answer these calls and return voicemails from the Health Department or the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.”

The county health department said calls may be from an area code where residents typically do not receive calls from, including the 517 area code. To keep each person’s information confidential and to provide residents with information they need, it is important for health department staff to speak directly with impacted Macomb County residents, according to the health department.

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• ‘Answer the phone’: Michigan health officials contacting residents about COVID-19 contact

The Macomb County Health Department and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services say they will not: offer medication for treatment or prevention of COVID-19; ask for Medicaid or other insurance information for billing purposes; or request personal financial information such as a social security number or driver’s license number.

Questions that will be asked by the Macomb County Health Department include:

• current health status;
• symptoms they may be experiencing;
• individuals they have been in contact with;
• places they have been in recent days;
• and other health-related questions.

If you are concerned about a call you received from any local health department or MDHHS, please contact the Macomb County Health Department Helpline at 586-463-3750. The Helpline is open 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. If you need further assistance, contact the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 Hotline which is open seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at 888-535-6136. You can also send an email to COVID19@michigan.gov for assistance.