ADH problems
Dear editor:
The Arkansas Department of Health is in dire need of some common sense and training.
If you have COVID, say your prayers. The contact tracers cannot figure out who is positive and who is just a contact. From personal experience, I was the last one in my circle who tested positive yet the first one contacted. My two exposures who tested positive were not in the system yet. I gave that information. I was also told I would be getting a packet via email that would have my COVID letter and information on how to take care of myself and not transmit the disease. Well, it’s been five days and nothing, so I guess that information is not important.
My two contacts were finally contacted and they have not gotten their packets yet, either. I was contacted since by two other contact tracers who did not have my positive status but that I was at risk only. A brand-new day for them.
Another family member who tested negative was contacted and told they were positive, then contacted by yet a different contract tracer to talk about their possible exposure. We are in the 21st century, folks, and have computers to track this stuff. Do we ask each school district to send their best computer geek to Little Rock to program the system and teach the Health Department how to use it? What about these instructions — do we email them as the contact tracer is speaking to you? The letters for those who have to return to work but can’t until the “letter” arrives puts many in an unnecessary limbo land to return to work or, heaven forbid, kids to return to day care.
One contact tracer says your quarantine time is 10 days from the date of first symptom another says 10 days from the date of your test. Which is it? If the Health Department wants the public to trust the numbers and information being given out, they need to get it together and have accurate information and consistent messaging. Don’t call folks and tell them they are positive and don’t count that as a positive to release to the media when it is a true negative. Get your messaging straight and consistent. You have lost a lot of credibility in my eyes over this past week.
I had done contact tracing back in the 1980s when we did it by paper and pencil. My employer would never have allowed the mistakes and casualness that is going on today. Before we throw more money at a system that is not working let’s make it work right and actually do something to help the people of this state.
Sharon Parrett
Hot Springs