Notice to Public

April 29, 2022

NYS Virtual COVID-19 Call Center to Discontinue Contact Tracing

The Franklin County Public Health Department (FCPH) is alerting the community that the New York State Virtual Call Center (NYS VCC) will be discontinuing services at close of business day on April 29, 2022.  The NYS VCC has been the primary method of follow-up phone calls and text messages for positive COVID-19 cases since the ending of local contact tracing efforts at the start of the year.

Locally, FCPH will continue to monitor positive cases and will conduct follow-up communication for at-risk populations and congregate care settings, in addition to continued close communication with local school districts.

The general public will not receive a follow-up phone call or text message if testing positive for COVID-19. The following steps should be taken if you test positive with either a PCR test or a Self-Test:

• Individuals who test positive must remain at home (isolate) for five days after symptom onset or after their test date if they do not have symptoms. If the positive has no symptoms or symptoms are improving at the end of the fifth day, they may end their isolation as long as they can wear a well-fitted mask around others for five additional days. If they cannot wear a mask or are moderate to severely immunocompromised, they must remain isolated for 10 days after symptom onset or test date if asymptomatic.
• Contacts of positives must remain at home (quarantine) for five days after the date of their most recent exposure to the positive if not up to date with their COVID-19 vaccination series. Quarantined contacts must also wear a well-fitted mask for an additional five days when in public or should remain home for 10 days if they are unable to wear a mask or are moderate to severely immunocompromised. Contacts that are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations must wear a mask for 10 days after the most recent exposure date but are not required to remain home. It is recommended that all contacts get tested at the end of day five.
• Anyone who previously tested positive within the last 90 days is not considered a new case and is exempt from additional isolation or quarantine.

Franklin County residents who test positive using an at-home COVID-19 test kit may complete the self-test reporting form found at https://www.franklincountyny.gov/residents/covid-19_guidance/index.php

For COVID-19 isolation and quarantine guidance and self-serve documents, go to  https://www.franklincountyny.gov/residents/covid-19_guidance/isolation_and_quarantine.php

For assistance in calculating your isolation or quarantine period go to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html#