ALAMANCE COUNTY, N.C. — It's an important job that helps to track the spread of the coronavirus.
Contact tracers have been busy asking questions and making contact with people who have either tested positive or have come in contact with someone who tested positive for the coronavirus.
Rebecca Oakes is a contact tracer for the Rockingham County Health Department.
"If you have a positive case, we’ll contact that individual, if that individual has been in contact with someone else or a group of individuals then we’ll start to want to get a list of who those contacts, their phone numbers, contact information," said Oakes.
She's been making contact tracing calls for the Rockingham County Health Department for the last two weeks.
"If there’s a link to a case we want to know about it that way we can follow that chain of where they would’ve gotten it from and sort of what direction we need to go in," said Oakes.
But the job is more than just making calls and asking questions. It's about developing a relationship. Ayo White is a contact tracer in Alamance County and said sometimes she has to deliver the news to a stranger that they could've been exposed to the virus.
"Surprised, fearful, some knew, some didn’t and some were just like 'OK,' not phased at all," said White.
Meteea Garner is also a contact tracer in Alamance County, and said all they ask is for people to be compliant when they pick up the phone.
"In the beginning, a lot of people are apprehensive to talk to us but once they realize we are here to help them, I tell some people, 'I’m gonna be your best friend by the time this is over,'" she said.
Garner said after keeping in touch with contacts for days, some still reach out to her, even when the process is over.
"I have people that still reach out to me now that we’re done and just say, 'Hey, how are you still doing? Are you okay? Numbers are increasing, are you okay?' Because we really do build a relationship with those people because we do talk to them every day," said Garner.
White said as the state's economy starts to open back up, contact tracers must alter the kind of questions they ask.
"We have to kind of restructure our interview now to reflect where have you gone? Churches, weddings, work," she said.
Oakes said they'll ask patients about their symptoms, when symptoms started, if they've been to any social gatherings or parties, if they know anyone who's tested positive, and who they've been within 6 feet of for at least 15 minutes.
Oakes said she's glad she can be a source of information for people who need it.
"It’s been nice to talk to some of the individuals in the community and be that hub for them and quail some of their worries," said Oakes, "Because it’s a scary thing to think about."
Oakes said the contact tracing is making a difference in Rockingham County, when it comes to tracking down the spread of the coronavirus.
"I think it really has been helpful as far as prevention is concerned especially whenever we get these positive cases we can isolate individuals quicker. So, I think it’s really helped us to trace what’s going on here in Rockingham County," she said.