INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - Until recently, you probably haven’t heard the term “contact tracing.” As we now know, it’s a way to stop the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19.
Starting Monday, Indiana ramped up its testing and contact tracing.
This idea isn’t new. Indiana has been doing it for decades on the local level for tuberculosis, measles, mumps, HIV and foodborne illnesses. On Monday, the state took control, centralizing its approach on a much broader scale by launching its call center.
As part of a $43 million contract, IDSH partnered with the Virginia-based company Maximus to cover all 92 counties in the state.
So far, ISDH has hired 325 contact tracers who are either Indiana residents or students attending school in the state. The goal is to have 500 contact tracers by the end of May.
With the state taking charge, ISDH officials say this will free up local resources to help connect people with services in their communities.
HOW IT WORKS
ISDH is notified when there is a positive COVID-19 case. The contact tracer will then ask that individual a series of questions ranging from when they started having symptoms to where they have traveled recently. The goal is to notify anyone that was possibly exposed to the virus. They will then call, email or text those individuals to quarantine themselves and get tested.
All personal information gathered will be kept private on the state level. Even if you received a call that you were in close contact with someone who tested positive, the individual’s name will not be revealed.
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The state also can’t force anyone to say where they have been or who they have been with. The state health commissioner said at this time, there haven't been any issues.
So far, the state has 285 cases already loaded into the system with calls, emails and texts sent out.