The U.S. is facing a contact tracing shortage, prompting states to increase their search for people who want to help with tracking those with the coronavirus.
What is a contact tracer?
- The COVID-19 pandemic has created an entirely new position for people — contact tracing. “Those are the people who call you when you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and walk you through the next steps,” according to Marketplace.
- The U.S. may need between 100,000 to 300,000 more contact tracers, according to Marketplace.
How do you become one?
- It depends on the state. Some states want you to have a high school diploma. Other states require health care experience, according to Marketplace.
Contact tracing apps can help
- Countries across the world have looked to create contact tracing apps, where people can input whether they’ve had COVID-19 and who around them might have been infected.
- According to Reuters, Germany announced that its contact tracing app might be launched within the week.
- The United States has seen “slower” progress, per The Verge. People have expressed concerns about privacy and accuracy when it comes to creating those apps.