TL; DR: Contact tracers play an important role in educating potential contacts and curbing transmission in your immediate community. Please accept their calls, answer their questions honestly, and listen to their recommendations.
If you are fully vaccinated, it may seem surprising to get a phone call from a contact tracer. Please remember: Contact tracers are there to help. Contact tracers call all potential exposures and may not know your vaccination status. Here are some of the reasons why you should be thankful that a contact tracer is reaching out to you:
1.) AWARENESS OF EXPOSURE: A contact tracer wants to make sure you are aware of the exposure to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Regardless of your vaccination status, it’s recommended that you get tested 5 days after your most recent exposure.
2.) SYMPTOM CHECK: A contact tracer wants to see if you have symptoms to reduce transmission to people in your circle and the broader community. Vaccinated people with break-through cases may have mild symptoms that are easy to explain away. Early awareness can help people to isolate earlier, even before they are tested.
3.) VACCINE STATUS: A contact tracer may want to confirm your vaccination status and will let you know whether you are considered up to date (i.e., if you are eligible for a booster, that you’ve received it.)
4.) QUARANTINE GUIDELINES: If you are up to date and have no symptoms after being exposed, that’s great! While you may not have to quarantine, you may be asked to wear a mask around others.
5.) ALL OTHER QUESTIONS: Contact tracers can also help answer any other questions that you may have about COVID-19 and how to mitigate future risk by safely isolating or quarantining if it is recommended. If necessary, they can connect you with services.
Just like the rest of us, contact tracers are exhausted. It’s been a long slog. Contact tracers are working the phones to help communicate, explain, and help others. They are a critical part of the public health workforce. They deserve to be celebrated. If you’ve had a positive experience with a contact tracer, please share your story in the comments below.
WARNING: Contact tracers will not ask you for information about money, social security number, bank account information, salary information, or your credit card number. If someone asks you for this information, please do not provide it and hang up immediately.
Here’s a prior post we wrote based on an interview with a contact tracer.
