Local officials are emphasizing the importance of contact tracing in stopping the spread of COVID-19, after Governor Mike DeWine upgraded Union County to a Level 2 Public Health Emergency.
Union County Health Department Public Information Officer Jennifer Thrush said contact tracing is the “cornerstone to our response effort.”
She said the health department has two epidemiologists and one communicable disease nurse who generally handle about 300 cases of various diseases each year.
However, in light of COVID-19, she said UCHD has ramped up its contact tracing efforts.
“We have built the county’s capacity pretty substantially over the last couple of months,” she said.
Thrush said UCHD recently hired two part-time contact tracers through funding from the state government. The agency is currently interviewing for another full-time position.
She said six additional health department staff members have also been trained to assist with contact tracing efforts on certain days of the week.
Thrush said 14 Medical Reserve Corps volunteers are on standby as well. She said the medically trained volunteers have assisted the health departments on several occasions.
She said, while contact tracing “isn’t a foolproof system,” it is a critical part of efforts to break the transmission cycle of the coronavirus.
Once a case of COVID-19 is confirmed, Thrush said one of UCHD’s two epidemiologists will contact the individual to conduct the initial “investigation interview.”
She said epidemiologists will determine who close contacts were within two days before the affected individual started experiencing symptoms. Thrush noted that close contacts are people who interacted with the person who tested positive for 10-15 minutes within six feet – generally household members or close coworkers.
If another person walked past the ill individual at a store, or even at work, she said “that’s likely not a high risk experience.”
For that reason, even if an employee tests positive, Thrush said the whole business may not need to close down.
After the initial interview, contact tracers will get in touch with each of the close contacts provided by the affected individual.
The close contacts will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days while they monitor for symptoms. They will report their symptoms via text or phone call once a day to a contact tracer.
If symptoms emerge or the individual tests positive, Thrush said they will “switch to isolation” until it has been 72 hours since a fever broke and symptoms are gone or 10 days since their first symptoms.
Aside from identifying close contacts, Thrush said contact tracers also work to ensure ill individuals have the resources they need.
She said tracers are in touch with social support services like the United Way and Hope Center to help provide sick residents with food, assist with utilities or rent and schedule urgent care appointments.
In general, Thrush said UCHD has seen “really good compliance” regarding ill individuals’ willingness to share close contact information.
“Most people are definitely willing to have community health in mind,” she said.
However, she said there has been some hesitation from individuals who “feel like they’re in trouble” or feel as though they’re “tattling” on people they’ve been in close contact with.
“No one is in trouble,” Thrush explained.
She said UCHD epidemiologists are well-versed in contact tracing and work to “share its importance, alleviate concerns and help to understand facts.”
Those who may be hesitant to share generally open up after considering the question, “Wouldn’t you want to know if you were at risk?” Thrush said.
Still, she said contact tracing is dependent on the information provided by an ill individual.
For that reason, Thrush said the more information epidemiologists have, the better they can serve the community.
“We view this as a partnership with our residents,” she said. She also encouraged community members to contact the health department with information surrounding any confirmed case of COVID-19.
According to the Ohio Department of Health, Union County has seen 102 cases of COVID-19 as of Sunday.
Ten individuals required hospitalization and one individual died.