Asks Community for Help with Contact Tracing
Schenectady County Public Health Services (SCPHS) is asking residents who receive a positive COVID-19 test result to immediately begin isolating, visit www.schenectadycounty.com/COVID19 to access the new isolation toolkit, and begin the contact tracing process while they wait for a call from public health. The guide provides isolation information and guidance positive individuals can use to keep themselves and others safe as well as start identifying their close contacts.
Due to expanded eligibility and increased interest, SCPHS has been inundated with calls and emails from residents looking to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment. The influx of requests has made it harder for staff to keep up with contact tracing, and daily isolation and quarantine follow-ups.
“As public health’s focus transitions more towards vaccine distribution, we need the community’s help more than ever to slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Schenectady County Manager Rory Fluman. “If you or someone you know tests positive, we ask that you access the new toolkit and start identifying those around you that may have been exposed. Working together we can keep our friends and families safe.”
To streamline communications, SCPHS asks residents who have questions about isolation or quarantine to access the toolkit at www.schenectadycounty.com/COVID19 first before calling. Residents who still have questions or need to request official paperwork are asked to call (518) 386-2824, option 4, and leave a detailed message. While there may be delays due to the volume of inquiries, SCPHS staff will return your call as soon as possible.
Volunteer
SCPHS is looking for volunteers to join its Medical Reserve Corps. In addition to medical volunteers, SCPHS needs non-medical volunteers to help with registration, data entry, greetings and other non-medical roles vital to the County’s pandemic response and vaccine distribution program. Interested residents should visit www.schenectadycounty.com/public-health/mrc for additional information or to sign up.