What are social bubbles for COVID-19?

Social bubbles are research-proven to help slow the spread of COVID-19, because they limit the number of people whom you meaningfully interact with. Many experts suggest capping a bubble at about 10 people, which may be two or three households.

What is the role of the contact tracer during the COVID-19 pandemic?

See full answerCommunicates with contacts to notify them of exposure, provides disease and transmission information, gathers data on demographics, living arrangements, and daily activities. Asks about signs/symptoms and underlying medical conditions. Provides referrals for testing (if appropriate). May conduct home-based specimen collection.Provides recommendations for self-quarantine and reviews daily monitoring procedures. Assesses supports necessary to maintain compliance during self-quarantine. Conversations with contacts should be guided by standard protocols.Conducts daily monitoring during self-quarantine—temperature, signs/symptoms, use of fever-reducing medications—via electronic tool (e.g., smartphone, case management software) or other designated mechanism, until 14 days after last potential exposure, and referral to healthcare if contact becomes symptomatic.**

What are the current COVID-19 restrictions in Virginia?

• Nightly curfew from midnight to 5am. (Exceptions are people traveling to and from work, traveling to get medical attention or get food.)• Social gatherings are limited to 10 people• Virginians ages five and older will now need to wear masks indoors when coming within 6 feet of other people.

How many guests can safely attend a conference, concert, or other community event during the COVID-19 pandemic?

CDC does not provide specific numbers, including maximum or minimum numbers, of attendees for events and gatherings. Event organizers should work with local public health officials and follow applicable local laws and regulations, including those related to privacy, to determine the prevention strategies needed in their area. Event organizers should also monitor levels of community transmission (low, moderate, substantial, or high) and local COVID-19 vaccination coverage.

What should employers know about COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing?

See full answerCOVID-19 is a nationally notifiable disease, and when diagnosed or identified, must be reported by healthcare providers and laboratories to STLT health departments. Health departments are responsible for leading case investigations, contact tracing, and outbreak investigations. Case investigation is the identification and investigation of individuals with confirmed and probable diagnoses of a reportable communicable disease, such as COVID-19. Contact tracing follows case investigation and is a process to identify, monitor, and support individuals who may have been exposed to a person with a communicable disease, such as COVID-19. Health departments also administer communicable disease control measures within their jurisdictions to protect public health.

Which skills are required to become case investigation or contact tracing specialist during the COVID-19 pandemic?

See full answer• A keen understanding of the need for patient confidentiality and the ability to conduct case interviews with care in order to protect confidentiality and to conduct contact tracing without disclosing the identity of the patient (case).• Understanding of, and ability to explain in plain language, the medical terms associated with COVID-19 and principles of exposure, infection, infectious period, potentially infectious interactions, symptoms of disease, pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic infection, types of tests used to diagnose infection, and available prevention and control interventions (e.g., isolation/quarantine, social distancing, environmental surface cleaning).• Excellent and tactful interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, and language and interviewing skills that allow them to build and maintain trust with clients and contacts.