On June 4th County Executive Steve Bellone and Legislator Bridget Fleming hosted a Facebook Live Town Hall to explain how contact tracing is important to controlling the spread of the virus, COVID-19, and how to become a contact tracer. Questions were taken from the comments section of the Facebook Live feed.
The New York State-led initiative, in which Suffolk County is participating, is a critical metric in keeping Suffolk County and the LI region on the continuing path of re-opening. The New York Forward plan calls for Suffolk County to have 30 contact tracers per 100,000 residents or based on infection rate. According to the New York State Department of Health’s website, New York State collaborated with Bloomberg Philanthropies, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Vital Strategies to create the NYS Contact Tracing Program. Contact Tracers work with people who have tested positive for COVID-19 to identify people they have had contact with and let them know they may have been exposed to the disease.
Legislator Fleming added, "I applaud County Executive Bellone’s quick action in pushing for the required number of contact tracers in Suffolk County and in our Long Island region. Contact tracing is an essential part of flattening the curve and keeping this public health crisis under control so that our economy can fully reopen and rebuild.”
If you get a call from “NYS Contact Tracing” (518-387-9993), PLEASE answer the phone. Answering the phone will keep your loved ones and community safe.
A contact tracer will:
NEVER ask for your Social Security number
NEVER ask for any private financial information
NEVER ask for credit card information
NEVER send you a link without proper authentication procedures