Here's What Do To If A Contact Tracer Calls

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Is contact tracing an invasion of privacy? That's the question Emergency Policy Group member and Hillsborough County School Board chairwoman Melissa Snively posed to health officials during Thursday's meeting.

Snively said constituents have asked her if contact tracing is a violation of their right to privacy.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, contact tracing is the best tool health officials have to trace people who have been exposed to the coronavirus and don't realize it. Contact tracers also monitor those infected with the coronavirus to ensure that they take part in an effective quarantine.

Dr. Douglas Holt, director of the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County said, while contact tracing is essential to defeating the coronavirus, it's not the health department's intent to invade anyone's privacy.

"Unless you give permission, your name will not be revealed to those you came in contact with, even if they ask," said Holt.

Currently, the county has nine full-time contact tracers augmented by another 20 health department staff members.

"We speak with someone who’s infected and, if they tell us the name of someone they believe they infected, we reach out and inform that person and advise them to get tested," said Holt. "We make sure they understand that they could be infected and spread it, and we ask them to voluntarily quarantine."

Self-quarantine is key to protecting friends and family and preventing the spread of the virus, he said.

"This is critical to protecting those who you live with as well as your community. It also helps slow the spread of COVID-19 and can help keep your friends and neighbors healthy," he said.

Those who are unable to safely isolate at home may be eligible to stay in a hotel rented by Hillsborough County until fully recovered. The county is currently renting two hotels - one for residents in quarantine and another for residents who have been diagnosed with the coronavirus and must be isolated.

Contact tracers offer those who have had contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus two options for keeping in touch with health officials. About 60 percent prefer to register and provide information online while the rest opt for a personal phone call, Holt said.

Those exposed are asked to quarantine for 14 days, starting from the most recent day that the person was possibly exposed to the coronavirus.

The Department of Health provided the following tips on ways residents can help the process:

• Pick up the phone when your health department calls.
• Follow health department guidance.
• Notify your healthcare provider if you become ill.
• Call your healthcare provider if you start to feel ill and you have not been tested for the coronavirus.
• If you have been in close contact with someone with the coronavirus, you should stay at home and self-quarantine for 14 days, starting from the most recent day that you were possibly exposed.
• Monitor yourself, and maintain social distancing (at least 6 feet) from others at all times.
• Notify those who you had close contact with recently if you become ill.
• Know what symptoms mean you need to go to the hospital right away.
• Seek medical care if symptoms become severe. Severe symptoms include trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, or bluish lips or face.

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