Contact tracing in the Philadelphia area, which is of crucial importance in preventing the spread of coronavirus, is being led by county health departments, write Erin McCarthy, Sarah Gantz, and Marie McCullough for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Instead of hiring contact tracers, Montgomery County decided to pay four nonprofit health organizations to train their employees.

According to Val Arkoosh, a physician and chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, the idea is that the twenty trained tracers can use their existing community connections to reach people who would not feel comfortable opening up to government authorities.

The volunteers have already started tracking cases and have found that people are afraid they will be blamed for spreading the virus even after tracers explain their identities will not be revealed.

“If people don’t feel safe sharing this information, we’re doing it with one hand tied behind our back,” said Arkoosh.

Meanwhile, Chester County is leading the COVID-19 response and tracing efforts not just within its borders but also for Delaware County.

The county plans to recruit nursing and public health student volunteers and hire temporary workers to triple its current ten-person tracing team.

Read more about contact tracing at The Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.

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