Coronavirus

The U.S. Needs Tens Of Thousands Of Contact Tracers. Most Aren't There

Experts say we need 30 contact tracers per 100,000 people. In many places, staff counts are well below that. Departments are hiring in the thousands.

The U.S. Needs Tens Of Thousands Of Contact Tracers. Most Aren't There
AP
SMS

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says his state might hire 17,000 contact tracers to track down new coronavirus outbreaks. That would well exceed what experts say the U.S. needs, at minimum. But in many places, actual staff numbers are well below the necessary benchmark.