Contact Tracing Status in Butler County

December 1, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Butler County General Health District, 513-863-1770

Contact Tracing Status in Butler County

BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO - Cases continue to rise throughout Butler County. The post-Thanksgiving increase in cases will begin mid to late week, and will continue through December and into January.

Due to the unprecedented volume of cases we are currently experiencing, and to protect our most vulnerable citizens, the Butler County General Health District (BCGHD) must pivot and prioritize case investigation interviews of people who have particularly high risk situations.

Jennifer Bailer Health Commissioner for BCGHD states, “When case numbers get as high as they are currently, research shows that contact tracing is of limited use in a community. It is really incumbent upon the community to not give COVID what it needs to spread. We know what to do to stop this pandemic—stay apart, wear a mask. COVID cannot spread without human hosts. If we stay apart we can decrease this pandemic.”

While we have over 150 contact tracers, Public Health is no longer able to call every contact. We will focus on those who have tested positive.

BCGHD will continue to investigate all high-risk situations/exposures;

Letters will be sent to positive cases with instructions about reaching out to their close contacts;

Contacts or those in quarantine will no longer receive a letter.

We are asking each person who tests positive to:
1. Stay home for 10 days and until their symptoms are improved and they have had no fever for 24 hours without use of medication. Call a provider or 911 if symptoms are concerning.

2. Get in touch with everyone they were near for two days before symptoms began (for 15 mins. or more over 24 hours, and within 6 feet, whether or not masks were worn), and ask them to quarantine for 14 days. Quarantine must be held for the entire 14 days even if a negative test result is obtained since people may get sick any time up to 14 days after exposure.

“The very best thing to do at this time is stay home as much as possible, stay apart from others, and wear a mask if you must go out. Work from home if you can, and order take out for dinner,” concludes Bailer.

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