A new survey published by the National Public Radio (NPR) shows Hawai‘i is among the top states in the nation with enough contact tracers in reserve to control the COVID-19 outbreak in our islands. The survey shows Hawai‘i needs an estimated 285 contact tracers, and while the current contact tracing staff level is at 79, there is a reserve of 229 staff members that could be used to help, as needed.
Thirty-nine states currently do not meet the estimated need for contact tracing capacity. The CDC told U.S. Congress in June about 100,000 contact tracers would be needed nationwide to fight the spread of COVID-19. The level of contact tracers appears to stand at 41,122, although NPR notes several states did not share their contact tracer levels so the number could be slightly higher. To view the study:
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