Some In Cape May County Not Providing Info To Contact Tracers

CAPE MAY COUNTY, NJ — Coronavirus patients in Cape May County "sometimes" refuse to provide necessary information to contact tracers, according to county health officials.

The county didn't have specific numbers on how often patients refuse to provide contact information for those who may have been exposed to COVID-19. State officials have urged the public to cooperate with contact tracers amid data that about half the patients reached don't provide them with information they need to help inform others of exposure.

Out of the coronavirus patients that New Jersey contact tracers have successfully reached from Aug. 2-8, 50 percent refused to provide information on close contacts, according to the state's most recent data.

But Cape May County's contact tracers have a process for when people don't provide information, according to Director of Public Health Nursing Natalie Sendler.

"When this occurs, we then give our number and ask the case to reach out to those contacts that spent more than 10 minutes less than 6 feet apart and ask them to quarantine for 14 days from last exposure," Sendler said in a statement to Patch.

They also offer for the contacts to call them for guidance and questions. If the person with COVID-19 has a contact in the room with them but won't provide their name, contact tracers ask if they can get put on speaker phone and instruct them on quarantine.

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But when the contacts are identified, tracers do reach out to them. The process doesn't necessarily end there though.

"They can refuse to talk with us," Sendler said. "Some do hang up. Some don’t answer the phone. We do two attempts and then list as no response."

If they know through the investigation where the case works, they'll notify the employer. Sometimes the employer may indicate contacts and provide information.

New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli warned that refusing to answer their calls or provide information can endanger friends and loved ones.

"That means all those individuals don't know they were exposed to COVID-19 and could be infectious," she said. Read more: Contact Tracing Not A 'Witch Hunt' Gov. Murphy Says

Contact tracers will identify themselves on calls as someone working with the local health department. If concerned it's a scam, hang up and call the local health department, Persichilli said.

The Cape May County Health Department has reported five active cases, 58 people cleared off quarantine and three deaths among Ocean City residents as of Tuesday morning. The department has reported seven active cases among non-residents that are linked to Ocean City.

The CMCHD has tallied 54 active cases among residents, 39 active cases among non-residents, 904 people cleared off quarantine and 83 deaths in Cape May County as of Tuesday morning.

Read more: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

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