Montco Now At 96 Percent Cooperation On Contact Tracing

NORRISTOWN, PA — Residents in Montgomery County have significantly improved on several fronts of civic responsibility, according to the latest information provided by the county.

Residents are now at a cooperation rate of 96 percent with contact tracers, officials said. It's a number that has climbed steadily in recent weeks, since the county first reported an unwillingness of some partygoers to reveal the names of others who attended large gatherings. Contact tracing is "judgement free," officials reminded residents, and accurately notifying those who have been infected is vital to suppression of the virus.

"It's how we're gonna beat this thing," Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh said Wednesday.

In some cases, individuals became much more cooperative once of the importance of contact tracing, and the reasons for it, were thoroughly explained. There remain instances of individuals whom tracers are not able to get in touch with, but that is the exception, not the norm.

Large social events like parties, family gatherings, and vacations continue to be the cause of the "bulk" of all of the county's actual transmissions, contact tracers have found. These infected individuals proceed to expose large groups of others to the virus, including schools, youth sports teams, and work environments.

In addition to contact tracing cooperation, compliance on mask-wearing is also up countywide, Arkoosh said.

The increase cooperation on both fronts is a major reason for continuing positive metrics on the virus around the county, including low hospitalization rates due to the virus, and a best-in-region percent positivity rate that's averaged 2.9 percent over the last seven days.

Residents are also urged to patronize businesses where mask-wearing and social distancing is enforced. If you walk into crowded store, it's recommended you leave and go elsewhere, officials said.