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State health officials on Monday issued a new alert urging Alaskans who have tested positive for COVID-19 to notify their own close contacts amid a straining increase in new cases the state’s ability to keep pace.
Alaska, like many states, is seeing a record high number of new coronavirus cases. The number here has exceeded 500 on most days for the past two weeks. Hospitalizations are also reaching new records almost daily.
But the critical message from health officials on Monday was about contact tracing, a strategy deemed crucial in slowing the spread of the virus. Contact tracers reach people who have come within six feet of infected people for at least 10 or 15 minutes. Close contacts are invited to quarantine themselves.
The number of new cases has “strained the public health response, creating a backlog in case investigations and contacts,” the Alaska Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement Monday afternoon press release. Anyone who tests positive is urged to notify their own close contacts as soon as possible so that they can quarantine themselves immediately.
A spokesperson for the agency did not immediately respond to a request for further information.
States across the country face similar challenges in contact tracing and efforts to reduce the spread of the virus, officials here say. On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control released new guidelines to help overwhelmed local public health officials prioritize contact tracing.
The latest wave of cases in Alaska has forced state contact tracers to triage cases to make sure they “reach people most at risk of severe symptoms and most likely to spread disease,” he said. State epidemiologist Dr. Joe McLaughlin said in a statement. declaration. “Even with additional staff, many systems are unable to track reporting, data entry, and outreach to all infected.”
Contact tracers attempt to reach the first day a positive result is reported.
Now, according to the state, public health contact tracers prioritize who should be called first based on factors recommended by the CDC, including how long the person has been tested for, whether they are living or working. in a place where the risk of transmission is high. such as a nursing home or if the person has a higher risk of serious illness due to age or other factors.]
People who test positive can find information to help them isolate effectively on the DHSS COVID-19 webpage. Alaskans who require food, shelter, or other non-medical assistance to self-isolate or quarantine effectively can contact Alaska 2-1-1 (dial 211 or 800-478-2221), their center local public health or emergency operations center.
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