The Warren County Health Department has been contact tracing a surging number of COVID-19 cases, and is calling on residents who may be ill or exposed to the virus to take action without waiting for …
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The Warren County Health Department has been contact tracing a surging number of COVID-19 cases, and is calling on residents who may be ill or exposed to the virus to take action without waiting for a health department phone call.
In the first 15 days of September, more than 100 new cases were reported locally, the health department said. That’s about a 30 percent increase from the total number of cases detected in the entire six months prior. As of Sept. 22, there were about 150 active cases in Warren County.
Health Department Administrator Ruth Walters said contact tracers have tracked a number of cases to group gatherings.
“We have found cases related to family gatherings, church events, holiday trips, get-togethers, and workplace exposures,” Walters said.
“One misconception we frequently encounter is the belief that just because you are outside, there is no risk and you are safe from contracting COVID-19. This is false. You can contract COVID-19 in outdoor settings when social distancing is not observed,” Walters explained.
She said the county health department has hired extra staff to assist with contact tracing.
Last week, the health department released a statement on its Facebook page directing anyone who tests positive for COVID-19, or who is a close contact to a COVID case, to not wait for a call from contact tracers before beginning quarantine.
Anyone who believes they are sick should stay home as soon as they develop symptoms or get tested, the health department said. Anyone who tests positive should try to remain in an isolated area of the home.
Patients who test positive can also help contact tracers by making a list of anyone they were in close contact with 48 hours prior to developing symptoms.
Anyone who knows they have been within 6 feet of a confirmed COVID case for more than 15 minutes is also asked to stay home for 14 days from last contact, and monitor themselves for symptoms.
The health department is also advising local businesses to develop a “pandemic plan” if they don’t already have one.
Walters explained, “Usually pandemic plans include strategies to handle potential COVID-19 impacts on areas of business, such as staffing, leave time, pay, supply and demand changes for products or services, strategies to implement proper social distancing, face coverings, hand washing stations, considerations for altering services or capacity limits, or any of the items mentioned in the CDC COVID-19 Guidance for Businesses and Employers.”
