WHAT IS CONTACT TRACING?

Public health authorities use contact tracing to help contain infectious diseases by tracking its spread within a community. They urge people who may have been exposed to quarantine to prevent further transmission.

How it works

Tracers interview people who have tested positive for COVID-19 and ask them to recall whom they’ve been in close contact with while they may have been infectious. Close contacts are people who have been within 6 feet of the infected person for at least 15 minutes while the person was experiencing symptoms and the 48 hours prior.

The tracers then reach out to those close contacts via phone and urge them to quarantine for 14 days, get tested and track their symptoms. They do not disclose the identity of the person who may have exposed those contacts to the virus.

What contact tracers ask

■ Your name

■ Your contact information

■ Your date of birth

■ Your symptoms

■ Your close contacts

■ Your workplace

What they don’t ask about

■ Your Social Security number

■ Your citizenship or immigration status

■ Your financial information

■ Visiting your home to clean or perform a test

They may:

■ Direct you to a free testing site

■ Offer resources to help you quarantine if you’re unable to do so or require assistance such as child care

RECENT CONTACT TRACING IN GEORGIA June 23 to July 8

Confirmed COVID-19 cases Confirmed cases interviewed by tracers Close contacts identified

May 15 to June 22

Confirmed COVID-19 cases Confirmed cases interviewed by tracers Close contacts identified