Hats Off to Contact Tracing!

At the end of October 2020, the Canadian Red Cross was selected to support Manitoba Health conduct contact tracing.
 
Tracing is provided through a virtual operations team (VOT) with support from the Global Health Unit. Contact tracing is considered one of the most effective public health strategies to reduce the transmission of COVID-19.
 
Contact tracing includes:

1. Case Investigation Services
   Once an individual is identified as a COVID-19 positive case, the case investigators call and gain additional information to trace possible contacts. They educate on self-isolation and provide referrals for additional resources.
2. Active Daily Monitoring
   Responders call individuals that have been identified as COVID-19 positive or who have been in contact with COVID positive individuals. The callers do daily check-ins which includes documenting symptom changes, educating on self-isolation, and providing referrals for additional resources.

The numbers are staggering. To date, the VOT contact tracing team has

• Placed 55,917 outbound calls
• Made 19,868 referrals to COVID-19 resources
• Made 19,833 daily monitoring follow-up calls.

 “The contact tracing VOT Team is an amazing group of individuals from across Canada who have a passion to provide support to people who are affected by COVID-19. I have never been prouder and more fortunate to be part of such a dynamic group of individuals,” said Tammy Bach, contact tracing operations manager.
 
In recognition of the incredible work that the team has done, they recently had a Hats Off to the Team celebration via Zoom. Staff members from across the country joined in and a haberdashery good time was had by all!