Surge in cases overwhelms Olmsted County's contact tracing efforts

Olmsted County Public Health is asking residents who test positive for Covid-19 to take some contact tracing capabilities into their own hands, as the current spike in cases overwhelms the department’s ability to adequately investigate all new cases in the area.

Tuesday morning’s announcement comes after sobering numbers were released over the weekend, solidifying the picture of Olmsted County’s Covid-19 situation: 567 new cases in the most recent week in which figures are available — that is roughly 11 percent of the total amount of Covid cases in Olmsted County since the pandemic began. Seven-day rolling averages, hovering around 30 in October, are now north of 120.

The sudden spike has put a strain on the current contact tracing system, which had been successfully operating since the spring. Graham Briggs, director of Olmsted County Public Health, said the burden for contact tracing must now fall on the people who are part of the spike, as his department scrambles to keep up.

“Not being able to connect with individuals who have recently tested positive means that we are asking those who test positive for COVID-19 to assist us in our efforts to keep their family, friends and co-workers healthy and safe,” said Briggs.

For the foreseeable future, OCPH is asking every person who tests positive for Covid-19 to contact everybody they came in contact with two days before symptom onset, advise them to stay home for 14 days (retroactive to the day of last contact), and schedule a test for 5-7 days after last contact.

Related: Covid testing moving indoors

It is likely that this week’s Covid-19 numbers will eclipse last week’s report, setting new records and further underscoring the increasingly dire situation in Olmsted County. In Tuesday’s announcement, Briggs said decisions and actions made today could make a massive impact on the situation in the coming weeks and months.

“We need our residents of Olmsted County to do their part in helping us reduce the spread of COVID-19,” said Briggs. “What you do today can make a huge impact. [P]lease continue to wear your mask properly, physically distance from others and if you have any symptoms consistent with COVID-19 please get tested, stay home and contact your friends and family.”

Isaac Jahns is a Rochester native and a 2019 graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism. He reports on politics, business and music for Med City Beat.

Cover graphic via Olmsted County Public Health