A day in the life of a COVID-19 contact tracer

Tracking contacts is considered a critical tool in the fight to contain coronavirus, but what is it like to get the job done?

While medical personnel are working to save COVID-19 lives, it is the contact trackers that can actually stop the spread.

READ: ‘Answer the phone’: Michigan health officials contact residents about contact with COVID-19

Local 4 spoke with Dayna Benoit, a tracker of contacts with the Washtenaw County Health Department, to share what it’s like to do the work that so many count on.

“Most of my day is on the phone,” said Benoit.

Benoit worked as a community health analyst until March, when she was reassigned to be a contact tracker. She thought it would last only a few weeks.

“As the situation fell apart, that was clearly not the case,” Benoit said. “Here we are, many months later, still doing the same job.”

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While testing provides information on where the virus is, contact tracing provides information on where it’s going next. Benoit spends his days trying to reach close contacts of people who have tested positive, checks their health, and asks them to remain in quarantine for 14 days.

“Occasionally we have people who are a little grumpy when we call them because it is not a fun call,” said Benoit.

But most people appreciate your calls.

“It feels really gratifying, especially when you are able to talk to someone and he says, ‘I’m so glad you called, I was so worried. You answered my questions and I feel like I know what to do now, ‘”Benoit said.

When trackers can’t reach close contacts, she said it can be annoying.

“Given the choice, people certainly don’t want to put their friends and family, who care a lot, don’t want to put them at any additional risk,” said Benoit. “It is discouraging and it also makes us nervous when people don’t answer the phone.”

As people started going out more, the exhibition sites have changed.

“Those gatherings where you could have a group of friends or family together for a barbecue, or some other party in someone’s backyard, things like that. Right now, we are seeing that those situations are where most of our close contacts come from, ”said Benoit.

He has not lost any of his assigned contacts, but his colleagues have.

“Hearing that they got sick and they are not doing well and then hearing that someone you have been following and reviewing unfortunately passed away. That is heartbreaking and really difficult,” said Benoit.

While it is emotionally draining work, he said he will continue to do it for as long as it takes.

“We really care about the health and well-being of the people we are contacting,” said Benoit. “At the end of the day, we feel like we are making a difference and that the work we are doing is really important.”