Article by Fairfax County Health Department
(Posted 2020 September)
The Virginia Department of Health launched COVIDWISE, a mobile phone app that offers alerts if you have been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. The free app uses Bluetooth Low Energy technology developed by Apple and Google, and it does not use or store personal information or location data. You can download it on the iPhone Appstore or Android Google Play Store. Learn more about COVIDWISE.
A new Health Department portal was created to enable community leaders to grab-and-go with shareable information they can bring forward into neighborhoods and conversations. As older adults are active members of homeowners associations, faith organizations and volunteer groups, and other organizations, you are encouraged to see the new portal and incorporate the health messaging into your next meeting, Facebook post or newsletter. No login is required. Learn more about the portal.
The Fairfax County Health Department has been conducting case investigations and contact tracing since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. These routine public health practices are critical to protecting the community and in fact are not new.
A representative of the Health Department, called a case investigator or a contact tracer, will contact you if:
- You were tested for COVID-19 and the test showed you have this virus (a positive test).
- You were identified as being in close contact with someone who has COVID-19. Close contact means that you were within six feet of someone who has COVID-19 for more than 15 minutes during the time they could have spread infection.
Contact tracers will only talk to you about information that is important for the case investigation. And if needed, they can help refer you to medical and other support services.
Sadly, there are many contact tracing ‘scams’ occurring. Here are some ways to know the call you receive is legitimate:
- You will not be asked for personal information like Social Security Numbers, bank account details or credit card numbers.
- You will not be asked for money.
Learn more about contact investigations on the Health Department website.
There is no way to ensure zero risk from COVID-19 when leaving home. In general, the more closely you interact with others and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread.
We cannot say how risky all the activities you may wish to participate in are, but we can share four important things to consider:
- The more people you interact with the more your risk of getting COVID-19 increases. Even if someone does not appear sick, they may have COVID-19.
- The closer you are to other people who may be infected, the greater your risk of getting sick. Indoor spaces are more risky than outdoor spaces where it might be harder to keep people apart and there is less ventilation.
- Spending longer time with people who may be infected increases your risk of becoming infected.
- Hanging out with people who don’t wear a cloth face mask increases the risk that they could spread infection to you.
Find out more information, including “10 Questions to Ask Before Going Out” on the Health Department website.
This article is part of the Golden Gazette monthly newsletter which covers a variety of topics and community news concerning older adults and caregivers in Fairfax County. Are you new to the Golden Gazette? Don’t miss out on future newsletters! Subscribe to get the electronic or free printed version mailed to you. Have a suggestion for a topic? Share it in an email or call 703-324-GOLD (4653).