A Closer Look At Contact Tracing

A Closer Look At Contact Tracing

Dr. karen landers, alabama department of public health "in alabama throughout this entire investigation of this pandemic we have continued to do our case investigation and contact tracing and we are committed to that."

Tuesday, doctor karen landers with the alabama department of public health told waay 31 it's committed to tracing who positive coronavirus patients contacted about 2 days before their symptoms started the state is currently averaging about 1000 new cases a day in the past week...which landers said isn't making the process any easier.

"it is a challenge and i will not say it's been challenging for the alabama department of public health but we have been doing contact tracing seven days a week since this pandemic occurred.

" landers said the department currently has about 150 contact tracers.

With caseloads rising... so is the amount of work for tracers.

They've worked weekends, and holidays since the first cases were identified in alabama.

Landers also told me the health department's working to hire more contact tracers during the next couple of weeks to hopefully alleviate some of the challenge..

She said if you test positive they hope to contact you within a day but the tracing might take a little longer to complete.

"our case investigation goal is 24 hours and certainly we would like to get the contacts from that case investigation and get that contact tracing done within 48 to 72 hours."

Syd, "landers said a contact tracing app will be launched in the university of alabama system this fall- and later could be rolled out to the public.

Until then, all tracing will be with phone calls.

In huntsville sm waay 31 news."