According to data from the state department of health, of those that have tested positive for COVID-19 since mid-may, only 59% have responded to phone calls from contact tracers and only one-third are answering calls within the crucial first 24 hours after the test results.
“Is it as good as we would like? Well, obviously not because some people are not taking this seriously even with all that we’ve been talking. It’s better than not having it,” said State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry.
Louisiana’s contact tracing efforts are facing some major hurdles in its work to combat the spread of COVID-19 including unanswered calls, privacy concerns, and distrust from elected officials.
Contact tracers call those who have tested positive, then call to those that the individual has come into close contact with over the last two weeks. The process is confidential. Guidry says there has been an uptick in the number of people paying attention to the advice of health officials with the recent upswing in cases.
“Until you start seeing cases you don’t think it applies to you. This week, a lot of people think it applies to them. I’m hearing from alot more people because the cases are going back up,” said Guidry.
Governor Edwards says there is a great appreciation for those that answer the phone and comply with contact tracers but is pressing for more cooperation.
“They have a right not to participate, but not participating is not the right thing to do,” said Edwards.
Nearly 400 people are trained and working in call centers to operate the contact tracing program.
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