Contact Tracing

The department says the survey will allow its staff to keep track of more cases at a faster pace

The hope is that if they get a text first then more people will answer their phone when the health department calls.

Health officials instead will focus on high-risk settings, like schools and long-term care facilities.

The estimate was provided Monday by a member of the state health department.

Health officials have said timely contact tracing is a key component in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Thousands of contact tracers are needed to handle the volume of cases.