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State to aid in contact tracing

T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Belmont County Deputy Health Commissioner Robert Sproul reports on COVID-19 cases and vaccinations. The work of contact-tracing those who may have been in contact with infected people will soon be taken over by the state.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Belmont County Health Department is receiving some state aid in contact tracing, which should free up staff for other duties.

Belmont County Deputy Health Commissioner Robert Sproul said Tuesday he had spoken with the state health department on details of contact tracing going forward. Residents who have been in contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 will now be notified by a communications company. Public Consulting Group is contracting with the Ohio Department of Health to do contact tracing, Sproul said in a text message.

He said this will mean Belmont County Health Department staff tasked with contact tracing will be used elsewhere.

“The contact tracers will be moved to clinic support roles to help the nurses distribute the COVID vaccine. They will also be tasked with reaching out to positives if PCG is unable to make contact and dealing with outbreaks in the county,” Sproul said.

Sproul said this comes at a time when COVID-19 cases are on the wane, with an average of eight new infections per day.

Sproul reported there have been 6,263 cases in Belmont County since the pandemic’s onset, with 292 people either isolated with active cases or hospitalized. This number has remained less than 300 for several weeks. Sproul reported 5,854 people have recovered and 117 people have died after being infected with the virus.

Meanwhile, the weekly COVID-10 vaccination clinics will continue at the Ohio Valley Mall until May 20. The county health board has reported demand for vaccines has decreased. Vaccination clinics will be set up in communities by request, and vaccination outreach will continue. This week, the Shadyside Manor in Shadyside and Wayne L. Hayes Colonial Apartments in Flushing will host shot clinics for residents. The health department has completed a two-week vaccination outreach to the school districts in preparation for summer activities and socialization among students outside of school.

For more information about vaccine availability, visit the state site at gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov or the county health department site at belmontcountyhealth.com.

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