Doubts About Contact Tracing

[Yellowfin]

Doubts About Contact Tracing

“Contact tracing might make sense for certain diseases. But it turns out that there is no evidence that this novel coronavirus can be contained by contact tracing. Let us consider some of the articles on this topic.” ~ Edward Stringham

www.aier.org

 

[bogey21]

My guess is that Contact Tracing for this virus is an exercise in futility and a waste of money....

George

 

[bbodb1]

Living in a more rural area of the country, contact tracing makes some sense here since it is much easier to maintain social distancing. But in areas with higher population density, I can't see how it could possibly be worth the expenditure of time and money.

I would think the time and effort invested in contact tracing would be better invested toward more testing - create even more testing centers, increase test processing capability, expand test center hours - etc.

 

[Talent312]

... I would think the time and effort invested in contact tracing would be better invested toward more testing - create even more testing centers, increase test processing capability, expand test center hours - etc.

But some say that if we did less testing, there'd be less COVID-19. [/Satire]

 

[TravelTime]

But some say that if we did less testing, there'd be less COVID-19. [/Satire]

Let’s not get political.

 

[Bunk]

NYC has told contact tracers not to ask about whether they've been attending demonstrations.

NYC coronavirus tracing head dodges questions on protocol with protesters

The head of the city’s coronavirus tracing program repeatedly dodged questions about why people who test positive for COVID-19 are not asked if they attended the mass demonstrations throughout the …

nypost.com

NYC COVID-19 Contact Tracers Not Asking About George Floyd Protest Participation, Despite Fears of New Virus Wave

Mayor de Blasio’s new “test and trace” team has been told not to ask people who tested positive for coronavirus whether they attended any demonstrations.

www.thecity.nyc

 

[Brett]

But some say that if we did less testing, there'd be less COVID-19. [/Satire]

some would say .... . [/Joking]

 

[beejaybeeohio]

If someone I've been in contact with contracts the virus I would want to be contacted so that I would be vigilant in case I contract it and if so I can contact those with whom I've been in contact to let them know they might contract it..

 

[bbodb1]

If someone I've been in contact with contracts the virus I would want to be contacted so that I would be vigilant in case I contract it and if so I can contact those with whom I've been in contact to let them know they might contract it..

I agree with this idea entirely, but is there truly a practical, efficient and accurate manner in which to measure and perform tracing in areas where you come into contact with higher numbers of people? I still suggest the money being put toward contact tracing would be better spent toward testing. But just for grins, I was thinking about yesterday when I had to make a trip to town and if I had to recount the interactions I had, could I accurately do that?

No doubt, we can easily imagine the weakness in contact tracing when a person is out in public. I interacted with a person at Home Depot - do not recall his name but we maintained the 6 foot social distancing spacing. Do I include this person or not? I have no idea what their name was and I really can't provide much of a description. Young, male, perhaps post high school age or early college, around 3 pm. What would a contact tracer do with that info? Can you imagine how fast a contact web would sprawl?

 

[b2bailey]

From what I understand, it is only considered "contact" if you spent 15+ minutes with a person. Anyone else hear it this way? If that is the case, I could do a better job making a list of my contacts. And yes, I would alter my behavior if told I had been in contact with someone who tested positive.I

As of today, in my world, I do not know anyone who has tested positive.
And I do not know anyone who knows anyone who has tested positive.

Third party stories are the closest I have come -- and I am grateful.

 

[clifffaith]

I just saw a report on CNN that indicated when you get the phone call notifying you that you have been named as someone a covid positive patient has come in contact with, and of course the first thing you ask is "who have I been in contact with?", the answer is "we can't tell you because of privacy rules". My response would be "click". You can't tell me who I might have come in contact with, I automatically classify you as a phone scammer.

 

[Panina]

From what I understand, it is only considered "contact" if you spent 15+ minutes with a person. Anyone else hear it this way? If that is the case, I could do a better job making a list of my contacts. And yes, I would alter my behavior if told I had been in contact with someone who tested positive.I

As of today, in my world, I do not know anyone who has tested positive.
And I do not know anyone who knows anyone who has tested positive.

Third party stories are the closest I have come -- and I am grateful.

Four of my sisters friends had it and it wasn’t pleasant. Her neighbors nephew 30’s passed away from it with no pre existing conditions.

 

[Luanne]

From what I understand, it is only considered "contact" if you spent 15+ minutes with a person. Anyone else hear it this way? If that is the case, I could do a better job making a list of my contacts. And yes, I would alter my behavior if told I had been in contact with someone who tested positive.I

As of today, in my world, I do not know anyone who has tested positive.
And I do not know anyone who knows anyone who has tested positive.

Third party stories are the closest I have come -- and I am grateful.

And I have two friends who have lost parents.

 

[Yellowfin]

i do not know anyone either

 

[Panina]

And I have two friends who have lost parents.

I think when it affects your family or someone you know, the severity is real, and Cannot be ignored.

 

[Passepartout]

So far (knock wood) we have no friends/acquaintances or to my knowledge, no friends of friends who have contracted the virus. That said, our area is fairly rural, we began (or maybe kept up) isolating perhaps as early as February. It looks like we'll be keeping it up as long as it takes. (sigh)

Jim

 

[Cornell]

My daughters two best friends (who are 17 YO twins) had C19. Both very mild symptoms. My daughter was with both of them the day before they tested positive. She's fine.

 

["Roger"]

I just saw a report on CNN that indicated when you get the phone call notifying you that you have been named as someone a covid positive patient has come in contact with, and of course the first thing you ask is "who have I been in contact with?", the answer is "we can't tell you because of privacy rules". My response would be "click". You can't tell me who I might have come in contact with, I automatically classify you as a phone scammer.

I understand concerns about scammers. They are rampant. But if I got a phone call like this, I would go get tested. I don't see how a scammer would benefit from that.

 

[Luanne]

My daughters two best friends (who are 17 YO twins) had C19. Both very mild symptoms. My daughter was with both of them the day before they tested positive. She's fine.

Was she tested?

 

[Cornell]

Was she tested?

Twice . And so was I.

 

[Yellowfin]

I understand concerns about scammers. They are rampant. But if I got a phone call like this, I would go get tested. I don't see how a scammer would benefit from that.

lol, maybe just a stalker

 

[turkel]

Well as a nurse I can tell you knowing you have had contact with a positive pt gets you nothing. Not a 14 day quarantine not a test, just a let us know if you get sick.

My BFF in SoCal also a nurse just got a call.
You have been exposed.
By whom.
Can’t answer. How do you feel.
Fine . Answers the standard C-19 questions, fever, cough, etc.
Do I need to be tested? Quarantined?
Nope. Actually its been more than 14 days so your fine. Come to work as usual.

Keep in mind she was contacted by her employee health department.

So my initial statement above applies to a hospital in SoCal and my employer in NorCal.

My DD’s boyfriends Dad is currently on a ventilator. Healthy late 40’s Firefighter. Exposed on the job.

 

[Yellowfin]

N.Y.C. Hired 3,000 Workers for Contact Tracing. It’s Off to a Slow Start.

N.Y.C. Hired 3,000 Workers for Contact Tracing. It’s Off to a Slow Start. (Published 2020)

The program is crucial to the next phase of reopening, which begins on Monday. But workers have not had much success in getting information from people who test positive.

www.nytimes.com

 

[b2bailey]

N.Y.C. Hired 3,000 Workers for Contact Tracing. It’s Off to a Slow Start.

N.Y.C. Hired 3,000 Workers for Contact Tracing. It’s Off to a Slow Start. (Published 2020)

The program is crucial to the next phase of reopening, which begins on Monday. But workers have not had much success in getting information from people who test positive.

www.nytimes.com

They should consider hiring those who are set to work as Census takers. That number is staggering.