The more we find out about COVID-19, the more contagious it reveals itself to be, with its effects ranging from respiratory failure to strokes and its symptoms from headaches to loss of smell or taste and the possibility of mutations. There is increasing evidence that staying six feet apart is relevant only when outside in fresh air.  Indoors, with limited air circulation, 6 feet back is probably not enough.

At the same time, the more we live with the effects of COVID-19, the more people are scared, frustrated and stir crazy.  Some protesters call COVID-19 a “hoax” and say that it’s time to go back to “normal” living even though ordinary routines can put all people at risk – you, your loved ones and family, your neighbors.  In one case, it is thought that one person who behaved “normally” was responsible for a 2,000% increase in cases in their community. 

Widespread testing and robust “contact tracing” initiatives are our best hope for containing this virus while being able to go about our daily lives.  Unfortunately, our country is still nowhere near able to implement these life-saving programs at the necessary scale. 

Ready or not, however, state governments are beginning to answer protesters’ demands by reopening communities.

 What are the facts and what is best for YOU?

 The places and events most prone to outbreaks?

•       Meat packing warehouses
•       Birthday parties/funerals/weddings
•       Workplaces and business networking
•       Restaurants
•       Indoor sports events

 Enclosed spaces with a lot of people spending a long time together have the highest risk for spreading COVID-19.  Read more about the risk of certain settings here.

So how do we balance the need to reopen and go back to work, versus the risk of many more people getting sick and some of those sick people dying?

The best option is a phased reopening plan, bolstered by testing, contact tracing, social distancing, and state and federal programs supplying financial and practical incentives to businesses and individuals. These programs and initiatives are still in their earliest stages. And while some states have good plans, they are relying on individuals and businesses to comply with regulations that are currently unenforceable.  

How can you protect yourself and your loved ones in the meantime?

• Check both state and local safety guidelines for reopening and do your best to follow the recommendations, whether as a small business owner or employee. 
• Continue to limit grocery and other essential shopping as much as possible, and keep social interactions outdoors as much as possible while keeping a 6 ft distance.  

If you feel unsafe going back to work, or that your place of work isn’t following proper safety guidelines, 

• you can anonymously file a complaint with OSHA here, 
• or with the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity here.  

In the meantime, 

• follow social distancing protocol 
• make sure you are wearing PPE (find out how to make your own here)
• do your best not to touch your face throughout the day 
• once you get home, wash your clothes and take a shower immediately

We have numerous other resources on our website to help you in this difficult time. Whether you need housing and bill assistance, to find your nearest food pantry or want to learn to get involved with mutual aid or volunteering, we’re here to help.

 

Yours in Strength,

The Take Back Control Team

 

What is contact tracing? Contract tracing is an infrastructure that allows COVID-19 cases to be tracked down and isolated, significantly mitigating the spread of the virus.  Tracers find active coronavirus cases, contact the positive individual and find out where they have been and who they have had contact with in the recent weeks.  The tracers provide necessary information and advice to the infected individual and contact those who may have been exposed.  All positive cases are encouraged to self-isolate for two weeks and to continue to monitor their condition.  For more detail on the principles of contact tracing, read the CDC’s contact tracing guide here.

Contact tracing is a necessity to contain COVID-19.  It is a technique already used and credited with containing SARS and Ebola outbreaks.  When implemented properly, it requires data monitoring and management, ongoing communication with the public, housing options for those who need to self-isolate and a comprehensive testing infrastructure.

Before the current outbreak, the US employed about 2,200 tracers but experts say that the US will need closer to 100,000 in order to combat the spread of COVID-19. While this may help offset currently staggering unemployment numbers, it is not clear whether the US stimulus bills so far passed will have enough funding designated to hire the necessary amount of tracers to make a dent.  

To manage COVID-19 epidemics going forward, communities in the United States need: (1) ready access to rapid diagnostic tests for all symptomatic cases or those with a reasonable suspicion of COVID-19 exposure; (2) widespread serological testing to understand underlying rates of infection and identify those who have developed immunity and could potentially return to work or school without fear of becoming infected; and (3) the ability to trace all contacts of reported cases. In order to trace all contacts, safely isolate the sick, and quarantine those exposed, we estimate that our public health workforce needs to add approximately 100,000 (paid or volunteer) contact tracers to assist with this large-scale effort. This workforce could be strategically deployed to areas of greatest need and managed through state and local public health agencies that are on the front lines of COVID-19 response. To do this, we also estimate that Congress will need to appropriate approximately $3.6 billion in emergency funding to state and territorial health departments.

–Excerpt from A National Plan to Enable Comprehensive COVID-19 Case Finding and Contact Tracing in the US, by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Google, Apple and other technology companies are working on tracing initiatives using apps, location data and Bluetooth technology, but this has also raised concern over privacy and data sharing. While information necessary for tracking the virus is highly personal, developers assure users you must opt-in and that no information will be used to identify individuals. For more information on tracking technological development, check out this CNN article. You can read more about the relative merits of contacting tracing technology versus privacy protection in this publication from Cornell. 

Contact tracing is vital to fighting COVID-19.  It’s funding and implementation will be what allows for reopening at any level.  For contact tracing training, click here.  To apply for contact tracing jobs, contact your state’s Department of Health.

Yours in Strength,
The Take Back Control Team