Here's a highly troubling article reporting about contact tracing of the coronavirus running into a significant problem in Baltimore:
Baltimore City Officials Say Some Coronavirus Patients Not Answering Calls, Questions From Contact Tracers
Baltimore city officials said contact tracers, trying to track the path of the coronavirus spread, are having issues getting in touch with positive patients -- and when they do they aren't getting answers.
baltimore.cbslocal.com
Baltimore City Officials Say Some Coronavirus Patients Not Answering Calls, Questions From Contact Tracers
BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Baltimore city officials said contact tracers, trying to track the path of the coronavirus spread, are having issues getting in touch with positive patients — and when they do they aren't getting answers.
City Health Commissioner Letitia Dzirasa said contact tracers are having difficulties collecting information from positive coronavirus patients in the city. She said the city cannot be successful in its tracking if patients don't answer the questions accurately.
"Right now contact traces from the Baltimore City Health Department and the Maryland Department of Health are in the process of reaching out to residents who have tested positive for COVID-19. They're reaching out to ask about their movements during the time they were able to spread disease, and to ask them about the people that may have been in close contact with," she said. "Our teams reporting that some residents are choosing not to answer the call or refusing to provide the information being asked."
She said it is both for the safety of city residents and for the eventual reopening of the city, that residents who receive the calls take them seriously.
"Please answer the phone when you get the contact tracing calls, please answer the questions honestly and be sure to provide the information that our contact traces are asking for these calls are confidential," she added, "and we would never ask residents for their social security number credit card information or immigration status."