US reaching 5M milestone in coronavirus cases, the role of virus contact tracers has re-emerged again. When the pandemic started in US, there was enthusiasm in contact tracing. It’s reported that health officials had pleaded in April for extra funding, even the CDC (Center for Diseases Control and Prevention) director had told the congress in past June that more than 100,ooo contact tracers are needed to tackle the pandemic.

But in August, with coronavirus cases increasing in more than half of states, America has neither the staff nor the resources to be able to trace the contacts of every new case — a key step in the COVID-19 public health response.

MPR News

According to the recent NPR’s survey of all 50 states, ‘done in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, finds the national workforce has barely grown since mid June. NPR’s previous survey found a total contact tracing workforce of 37,110.’

• This Contact Tracer Is Fighting Two Contagions: The Virus and Fear
• Coronavirus cases are surging. The contact tracing workforce is not
• COVID-19 surge in young adults complicates work for contact tracers

Tracing in Young Adults Difficult

In the Star Tribune, reporters James Walsh and Jackie Crosby write : “As the pandemic enters its ninth month and social distancing fatigue sets in, young adults, many of whom are eager to return to bars and restaurants, are driving a new wave of COVID-19 cases across Minnesota. As they fuel the surge, they’re making it increasingly difficult for contact tracers to keep up with cases and track those exposed in hopes of containing the virus’ spread.”

When mostly older people were becoming infected, contact tracing was successful because people were scared. Now, the public is weary. Young adults are less frightened of getting sick and, in some cases, feel they are being scapegoated.

Dr. Ravindra Ganesh, Mayo Clinic (source: Star Tribune)

Contact tracers’ job is not easy either, especially for younger adults. The New York Times has a profile of a typical tracer which is fighting two contagions: the virus and fear.