ANN ARBOR – Due to an exponential growth in COVID-19 cases in the area, the Washtenaw County Health Department announced Thursday that it is now experiencing delays in contact tracing calls and emails. “Don’t wait for a call from the Health Department," Jimena Loveluck, health officer for Washtenaw County Health Department, said in a statement. All other residents who receive a positive test should follow established guidance and will be contacted as capacity allows. A person is considered contagious 2 days before their symptoms start or before their positive test if they do not have symptoms. The next pop-up testing opportunities are scheduled for Sat, Nov 14 at the Ypsilanti District Library at 5577 Whittaker Road and Sat, Nov 21 at Washtenaw County Health Department at 555 Towner Street.

Officials have identified a positive coronavirus (COVID-19) patient who went to three businesses in Northern Michigan over the weekend and might have infected other people. They released the locations, dates and times of the possible exposure. Contact tracing happens when someone tests positive for the virus, and contact tracers track down close contacts that person had and places they visited during the time they might have been infections. READ: Contact tracers considered key to coronavirus battle, but what are they? Contact tracers will never ask you for your social security number, drivers license or credit card information.