[blueash]

There were 39 new positives reported for Sumter Co today. This is certainly from the increased testing being done as the number of tests was very high. These are nasal swabs thus they represent actively infected and infectious people who are out and about.

I am starting this thread to help people who may get a call from the Health Department understand the process.

When a person has a positive nasal swab they are contacted by the Health Department and asked to give names and contact information for persons they had more than casual contact with. This means they don't list the cashier at Publix or their server at Cody's. Just people where the risk is definitely increased. Of course that doesn't mean the cashier is no risk from the exposure but rather the line has to be drawn somewhere.

The health department will have its tracers call the known contacts. If you receive this call, the tracer does NOT know the name, or the location of your exposure. The only thing the tracer has is that you have been exposed, and the date given by the ill person for their contact with you.

You will be given information on COVID symptoms, even though you probably know them. You will be given information on where you can be tested. If you have symptoms it will be asked that you do get tested but you cannot be forced to be tested. If you have symptoms the medical staff at the Health Dept will do additional contact and follow-up. The tracer will offer to answer your questions but they are NOT giving medical advice and may not even be medically trained people. The only function of the tracer is to inform you of your exposure and determine if at that moment you have any symptoms of COVID. And some minimal precautionary information.

You will be asked to self isolate for 14 days from the date of your last known exposure. If you have any symptoms you will asked to isolate from others in your household not just the public. If you are more than minimally ill you will be advised to see guidance from your own doctor. You will asked about 20 questions to determine your status and whether your situation presents a particular public health risk. For example you were exposed and you work in a nursing home or at the jail.

In Sumter county there is a cell phone text system for follow up. If you agree to being enrolled in the text system you will receive a text every day until your 14 day period ends. It will ask if you have developed any symptoms. You text back Yes meaning you are sick and a person will call you from the Health Dept. If you text back No then you are good for 24 hours. If you do not reply you will be contacted. If you decline the cell phone text you will be called daily.

If you receive a call and believe you are being scammed you can check directly with the Sumter County Health Dept. 352-569-3102

The people lining up for testing are not ill. They may be mildly symptomatic or symptom free. 5% are contagious. Remember that in your daily activities. One of twenty Villagers is actively infectious if the sample of people being tested is representative of the community. Look at the photo on the other news website. There is a photo of our peers, waiting for testing, not social distancing. I can't tell about masks from the picture. But this is representative of who is positive.