The many new COVID-19 cases that are cropping up every week in the Three Rivers Health District have put a great deal of stress on the team that tracks cases for the district.

Charged with contacting people who have possibly been exposed to the virus, the containment team is doing its best to keep up with the demand to investigate each new case, said Three Rivers Director Richard Williams, but is finding it “extremely difficult to do so.”

“We are forced to prioritize our case investigation to higher-risk situations,” said Williams in his weekly report to local communities. “If you have a positive COVID-19 test, we might not be able to call you in a timely fashion during these high-surge pandemic conditions.”

Williams said there has been a “tragic post-Thanksgiving pandemic surge across the country that has resulted in almost unbelievable numbers of new cases, hospitalizations and deaths.” He asked that people help prevent the spread of the virus by staying at home and not gat...