BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Massachusetts is rolling out a contact tracing program that is meant to help slow the spread of COVID-19. And if it proves to be successful, it could be a model for the rest of the nation.
At a press briefing on Thursday, Gov. Charlie Baker announced the program has "already hired 176 employees to do contact tracing through phone calls."
“Hundreds of additional people are being trained and on boarded in the coming weeks,” Baker said. Massachusetts is the first state to launch a program like this with a significant investment.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Jim MacKay broke down how the contact tracing program works.
The goal is to get in touch with as many people as possible who may have been in contact with COVID-19. The information would then be compiled to hopefully slow the spread of the virus.
The governor is urging that if you get a call, to pick up the phone and be as honest as possible.
“If you happen to receive a phone call, we urge residents to take this call and provide the relevant information,” Baker said.
The New York Times reports that similar programs in countries South Korea and Singapore have shown that type of tracing can help slow the spread of the virus. However, those countries use digital surveillance to accomplish the task.
WBZ NewsRadio's Jim MacKay (@JimMacKayOnAir) reports
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