Black Hawk County Health Department Reduces COVID Contact Tracing

By Willie S. Morrissey Last updated Sep 6, 2022

BLACK HAWK COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – The Black Hawk County Health Department is walking away from the countywide effort to investigate and trace COVID cases.

Officials cite a joint statement from national public health organizations NACCHO (National Association of County and City Health Officials) and ASTHO (Association of State and Territory Health Officials) to outline other critical steps to better protect public health:

“While universal case investigation and contact tracing during the initial phase of the pandemic was warranted in the attempt to contain the pandemic, most public health experts agree that is no longer optimal.”

Black Hawk County will end the search for its contracts on February 11, 2022, however, the Department will continue to provide education and send isolation and quarantine guidance to people who test positive via lab results. of state. The call center will remain open until April 1, 2022.

“The pandemic is still a top priority for the Black Hawk County Health Department, and contact tracing is an integral part of that response,” said Dr. Nafissa Cisse-Egbuonye. “However, as with many phases of the pandemic, we also need to consider how we can be most effective in keeping the community healthy.”

The department says it will continue to work with community health partners to provide vaccine and testing opportunities, increase education for vulnerable populations, and investigate targeted cases if necessary.