Author: Cailyn Schiltz

Dane County and Public Health Madison announced in a press release that they are moving to a crisis model of contact tracing.

With the rising COVID-19 cases in Madison, contact tracers can no longer efficiently follow up with everyone who has been diagnosed and all of their contacts. 

In a crisis model of contact tracing, people who test positive will be notified and given isolation instructions. They will be responsible for notifying anyone they may have come in contact with. 

“Like all other health departments in the state, we are struggling to keep up with contact tracing. When we consistently have well over 150 new cases per day, we cannot contact all cases and contacts quickly enough to effectively disrupt the spread of COVID-19,” said Janel Heinrich, Director of Public Health Madison & Dane County. 

When cases decline, Public Health Madison will be able to resume their standard methods of contact tracing. Until then, they have to rely on the community to take care of each other and themselves.

“We all have the ability to be leaders during this pandemic,” said City of Madison Mayor Rhodes-Conway. “As an individual, you can be a leader in your community by staying home as much as possible and taking precautions if you must go out. As a business owner, you can be a leader by ensuring your staff and customers are following all of Public Health's requirements and recommendations. As a workplace supervisor, you can be a leader by using remote and virtual options to the fullest extent possible.” 

Public Health Madison advises people to stay home, wear face coverings, social distance and practice good hygiene if they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or display any symptoms.