By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
With an onslaught of more COVID-19 cases expected in the weeks following Thanksgiving, the Wood County Board of Health held a special meeting on Tuesday to prepare for the crush of new cases.
The board voted to hire 16 more contact tracers and communications staff to help handle the community spread of the virus.
Like much of the nation, Wood County has seen some spikes recently in COVID cases – with more than 100 new cases reported a day, more than 500 active cases a day, and hospitalizations growing.
“What you have just done is increase the normal staffing levels by 25%,” Wood County Health Commissioner Ben Robison said to the board after the vote.
Board President Cathy Nelson mentioned that the ads being broadcast by the Ohio Department of Health have done a good job of promoting precautions to make Thanksgiving more safe.
“I appreciate the ODH ads,” she said. “It’s just if people are going to listen.”
In preparation for a possible spike in cases after Thanksgiving, the additional staff will help, Nelson said.
“Thanks to the board for continued support,” Robison said.
The additional staff will bring the numbers to 30 contact tracers, three communication staff, and one person advising staff. The new COVID response staff will be independent contractors, paid through an Ohio Department of Health grant.
The contact tracers work with people who test positive for COVID-19, tracing back to identify people who they may have exposed to the virus. That can take a lot of time and a lot of phone calls.
In most cases, health department staff ask the patients to trace back to 48 hours before their symptoms began. In cases where a patient lives in a congregate setting, or works in a factory, the spread can be rapid.
“It can very quickly go from a household to an entire building,” Tyler Briggs, epidemiologist with the health department, said back in May.
Oftentimes it’s difficult for people to remember all the people they have had contact with recently. That “recall bias” is a typical problem encountered by people working on contract tracing.
One of the challenges with COVID-19 is that the symptoms are inconsistent. Some people experience fever, cough and shortness of breath. Some experience a loss of taste and smell. Some have gastro-intestinal issues. And many are asymptomatic – but can spread the virus.
In October, the board agreed to hire 35 more people to work on contact tracing, staff a call center and provide support. Those staff approved Tuesday complete that plan.
Robison reported at that time that the current staff working on contact tracing had been working “eight days a week. We need to give them some relief.”
The new contact tracers will work staggered shifts, so there is coverage seven days a week.
