Earlier this week the DeWitt/Piatt Bi-County Health Department reported difficulty in compliance in contact tracing with a Farmer City family that had contracted the coronavirus. 

Director of the Health Department Dave Remmert says contact tracing is a vital step in slowing the spread of the coronavirus, especially as there has been a small uptick in cases in DeWitt County in the last week. He indicates most of the time there is good compliance in contact tracing but they do encounter individuals that do not participate in the vital step from a public health perspective.

According to Remmert, contact tracing is highly recommended for those that contract the coronavirus, and not cooperating is very risky. While it is strongly encouraged, if individuals refuse to take or return phone calls from health department officials, there is very little they can do.

When the Health Department is informed of a positive test, they receive information about the individuals to contact them, attempt to contact them, and work through a lengthy questionnaire to determine close contacts and those that live within their household. Prolonged exposure is determined as someone they were in an enclosed area for more than 15 minutes. The process continues with the individuals identified by the infected person. He points out it can become a lengthy process. 

Remmert also continues to promote mask-wearing. He says studies are showing it is a good measure to slow the spread of this virus.