The texts encouraging Michiganders to download the app are sent to individuals based on publicly available resident contact information. DETROIT – On Monday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced the launch of a statewide text outreach aimed at increasing awareness abut the state’s new exposure notification mobile app, MI COVID Alert. Because MI COVID Alert users are anonymous, some individuals who already downloaded the app may still receive a text message. Some text messages include a short link to the state’s website directing residents to the MI COVID Alert landing page. The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 463,403 as of Monday, including 11,532 deaths, state officials report.

This political season, the campaigns know the easiest way to reach you is through your phone, so you might be noticing more phone calls, emails and text messages. Some are even calling this year “the texting election.”The Trump campaign alone said it will send out more than a billion text messages by Election day. Now, texts from both political parties are flooding phones for voters who never signed up to receive them. However, that doesn’t guarantee you won’t continue to get text messages coming from different numbers. The Better Business Bureau says beware of texts soliciting campaign contributions because you can’t be certain the money is going to the candidate you want.