Contact tracing in Marshall County and across Iowa is being conducted by the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and 150 members of the National Guard.

Contact tracing is the process of connecting with people who have been in contact with individuals who have confirmed cases of COVID-19. The process is intended to help stop the spread of the illness.

Prior to contact tracing being taken over by the state department, it was up to county health officials to do the tracing.

Alex Carfrae, the emergency preparedness planner for the IDPH said the tracers are running case investigations and performing follow-ups at the request of Marshall County Public Health.

“Prior to April 28, local health staff conducted all investigation and follow-up,” Carfrae said. “This contact tracing included household contacts of positive individuals.”

Marshall County Public Health Nurse Pat Thompson said she did not do a lot of contact tracing before the state took over. She primarily communicated with people who lived in the same houses of those who were infected.

“Whoever was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 30 minutes,” Thompson said. “So, it is not contacting people who you stood next to in the grocery store or who you pumped gas beside.”

Some of the contact tracing extends beyond households, such as to places of employment. However, Thompson did not have to do that since many of the businesses in the state and county shut down before Marshall County began receiving large amounts of cases.

She is grateful the task of contact tracing does not fall on her anymore because Thompson said it is a huge job. Not only do tracers have to initially talk to those who have had contact, but also regularly check on people who have COVID-19.

Thompson said sometimes the people with COVID-19 do not remember everyone they have come into contact with, or maybe they do not reveal some people. Sometimes contact with an identified person cannot be established.

“Sometimes a person does not want to be found,” Thompson said. “There is no law that says a person has to do this, but we still make a reasonable effort to call.”

Many of the calls are being made from centers established in Sioux City, Cedar Rapids and Johnston, which is where the National Guard are stationed – 50 members at each location.

“This virus is everywhere,” Thompson said. “No one can make a person talk, but they should get education on how to take care of themselves. This is about educating and helping people.”