Contact tracers in Harris Co. doing all they can to keep everyone safe

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas - An alarmingly high number of new COVID-19 cases reported by the Harris County Health Department is making contact tracing more important now than ever.

On Wednesday, they reported over 1,500 new cases.

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Harris County Public Health says they have about 300 contract tracers who try to contact every person documented in the county who has tested positive for Covid-19.

“We have 20 teams and they do the contacting, they will call and if we have a cell phone, they may text an individual to complete the interview process on how to safely isolate themselves, how to live in their household if they are in a household with other family members. How they can isolate them in the home the best,” said Beau Mitts with the Harris County Public Health Department.

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“Our goal is to identify at least two contacts with everyone that we interview and we are exceeding that goal now because that helps us kind of contain, like a source of the spread.“

There are reports of scammers trying to pose as public health officials. 
If the Harris County Health Department contacts you, the phone number will be 713-853-8700 and the Caller ID will say Houston Health.

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Contact tracers will never ask you for your social security number, bank information, or credit card information.