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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsContact tracing is no longer possible across the South due to rapid coronavirus surges
Despite hopes for relief this summer, the US is battling the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic -- so much so that across the South and Southwest contact tracing is no longer possible, according to a health expert.
"The cases are rising so rapidly, that we cannot even do contact tracing anymore. I don't see how it's possible to even do that," Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of tropical medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, told CNN's Anderson Cooper Monday.
The rapid rise in cases is considered a surge, not a second wave, because the infection numbers never lowered to where officials hoped they would, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci said in a Facebook and Twitter livestream Monday.
"We are still knee-deep in the first wave of this," Fauci said.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us-coronavirus-contact-tracing-is-no-longer-possible-across-the-south-due-to-rapid-coronavirus-surges-health-expert-says/ar-BB16qmVK?ocid=NL_ENUS_D1_20200707_1_3
So much for the hot weather killing the virus.
Nevilledog
(51,281 posts)It's just not feasible because of the numbers of new infections.
mahina
(17,751 posts)Could you talk through how its technologically impossible?
Thank you so much for helping us understand. Its all unknown to me and Im sure to others here. Mahalo.
Nevilledog
(51,281 posts)The problem is not enough resources to meet the demand for tracing. By the time you go through the process too much time has passed and more people have been infected. Rinse and repeat.
That does not mean contact tracing should be stopped. It just means it's not going to be a fraction as helpful when there's a large outbreak.
mahina
(17,751 posts)Voltaire2
(13,257 posts)have been directed early on as the pandemic started to set up comprehensive test trace and quarantine programs nationwide.