Contact tracing is the process of contacting all people who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have had contact with someone who tested positive. It is possible to be infected with COVID-19 and have no symptoms, so contact tracing is currently one of the best ways to identify and notify people who may be infected in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. Participating in contact tracing is a way to protect you, your family, and your community.

 

Contact tracers from the local and state health department will be in touch with you if you test positive for COVID-19, and will also call people you were in close contact with – but will keep your information protected. You will see “CT COVID TRACE” or the number for your local health department on your caller ID.

 

Connecticut’s contact tracing program is run by the Department of Public Health (DPH), and uses recommendations that are based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

 

 

ContaCT

 

ContaCT is Connecticut’s statewide software system used for monitoring the health and wellbeing of people affected by COVID-19. ContaCT assists in facilitating timely and accurate contact tracing.

 

 

Protecting Your Information

 

The only purpose for collecting this information is to provide you, and the people you may have had contact with, information and resources to keep you and your community safe. Contact tracers will never:

 

• Identify persons as the source of information within a community.
• Give names or contact information to employers, the police, or immigration services.

 

What you should do if you test positive for COVID-19 (Cases)

 

Those who test positive for COVID-19 are directed to self-isolate, which means that they should stay home, and take the following steps:

 

• Monitor their symptoms. If they have an emergency warning sign such as trouble breathing, seek emergency medical care immediately.
• Ideally, they should stay in a separate room from other household members and use a separate bathroom, if possible.

 

If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 (Contacts)

 

If a contact has not yet been tested, they will be encouraged to get tested for COVID-19. Even if they do not have symptoms, it is important that they consider getting tested. People who do not have symptoms may still spread the infection to others. A contact who tests negative for COVID-19 should still stay home for a time period as recommended by their contact tracer and based on DPH guidance.

 

 

Please, answer the call

 

If you are contacted by a contact tracer, please answer the call, take their advice seriously, and let them know who you may have been exposed to. Participating in the contract tracing process is one of the most effective ways can continue to do your part and help us fight COVID-19.

 

 

Daily check ins

 

After the initial conversation, contact tracers will ask to do daily check ins to see how you are feeling.

 

For those who choose to participate, surveys will be sent by email or text message daily to those who have tested positive for COVID-19 and those identified who were exposed and who may be at risk of developing COVID-19.

 

Survey messages from ContaCT will be sent from SVC-Covid19@ct.gov; text messages will be sent from (855) 670-0299.

 

If you decide not to participate by email or text, you should expect a daily phone call.