State to centralize contact tracing for COVID-19

Staff Reports

INDIANAPOLIS — The state of Indiana is moving to a centralized contact tracing system for COVID-19 to help local health departments notify individuals who may have been exposed to the virus.

Dr. Kris Box, state health commissioner, said Wednesday the state will partner with a company called Maximus for a 500-employee call center that will provide the contact tracing function for local health departments, freeing local officials to focus on more locally-based health needs.

The center is expected to go live May 11, and will cost the state an estimated $43 million a year.

Contact tracing involves interviewing those who have a positive test for COVID-19 to determine who they might have come into contact with, and then notifying individuals of the contact and steps that need to be taken.

Using technology including emails and texts, the call center will make the contacts and conduct the interviews, advising those who have been in contact with a positive case as to what they should do as far as a 14-day quarantine and testing.

Local health departments are will be notified about all positive cases reported in their counties, Box said. Local health departments will be tasked with tracing for long-term health care facilities and employers, including manufacturing facilities.