COVID update: contact tracing program shows success in AB

Health Minister Tyler Shandro joined the February 18, 2021 COVID-19 updates to give thanks to Alberta’s contact tracers. There are more than 2,300 contact tracers in Alberta who have been working hard to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

There are a few reasons why contact tracers have been able to be more effective: there are now lower case numbers in the province, an increased number of contact tracers, improved technology that is now also language accessible, and targeted tracing teams for schools and daycares.

“We’ve also continued to refine the use of Alberta’s contact tracing system making change in the AHS online assessment tool and booking tool. The tool now allows Albertans to select which language is now primarily spoken at home so AHS contact tracers can have translators ready to go when contacting positive folks,” said Shandro.

The current contact tracing team is able to investigate 1,500 COVID-19 cases per day. They are now able to notify positive cases within 24 hours.

“I’m very happy to say that were in a much better place now compared to where we were at the end of 2020. There is several reasons for this: first of all and importantly, new cases have been trending down across the province over the last several weeks. I’d like to thank Albertans for abiding by the public health orders,” said Dr. Mark Joffe, Vice-President and Medical Director for Northern Alberta at Alberta Health Services.