The contact tracker will also ask if you`ve used the COVID tracking app. NEW MEXICO – In order to increase proactive COVID-19 testing of New Mexico staff and avoid additional temporary restrictions for major companies, New Mexico`s Ministries of Health and Environment have implemented voluntary monitoring tests and a contact monitoring agreement to allow companies to prevent mandatory 14-day closures caused by prompt state responses to COVID-19 cases. While waiting for a vaccine to be available, communities must use other means to reduce the spread of COVID 19. Contact tracking can be a powerful tool to reduce the spread of COVID-19 virus and control the COVID-19 outbreak. “Proactive testing is an essential tool in combating the spread of this virus,” said Billy Jimenez, Minister-in-Office of the Department of Health. “Private sector partners will have a significant and positive impact on the reduction of COVID-19 in New Mexico through these agreements.” In order to prevent the spread of disease, COVID-19 contacts are encouraged to stay at home and maintain social distance (at least 6 feet) between others up to 14 days after their last exposure to a covid-19 person. Contacts should monitor themselves by checking their temperature twice a day and taking care of the symptoms of COVID-19. The emphasis should be on contacts helping to identify social assistance needs during the self-quarantine. The agreement requires major companies to conduct regular COVID-19 tests among employees and to assist the Ministry of Health in monitoring contacts.
If positive cases are detected as a result of these tests, the resulting rapid response is not taken into account in the mandatory 14-day closure requirement in the current public health system. The sooner public health officials can alert close contacts, the lower the risk of COVID-19 virus spread. But not all health services have enough staff to stop contacts. Some domains are researching and experimenting with contact tracking applications that can be used. They also explore how to protect the privacy of people who use the apps. The hope is that these applications can make it faster and easier to find and prevent people exposed to COVID 19. The agreements not only allow essential businesses to avoid a mandatory 14-day closure, but they also pave the way for businesses currently closed to reopen before the 14-day period expires. The follow-up is confidential. Anyone who calls a contact tracer will not know that you gave them their contact information. Contact tracers use clear protocols to prevent, interview and counsel patients who have confirmed or probablely confirmed COVID-19.
Jurisdictions can use the following steps and reflections as a framework when a protocol for monitoring close contacts is developed. Doctors can give different instructions to establish contacts that have been diagnosed with the virus responsible for COVID-19 in the last three months. Close contact should also be managed by health coaching to ensure daily monitoring of the temperature and onset of COVID 19 symptoms and to have access to clinical services in case of symptoms. Contacts without virtual access to a primary service provider may require coordination of access to telemedicine services. All close contacts entering a 14-day self-40 period should receive a COVID-19 kit with the following resources: Learn more about the contact tracking process or check the follow-up of frequently asked questions.