San Francisco reveals new tool to fight coronavirus – NBC Bay Area



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San Francisco is rolling out a virtual assistant tool as part of its contact tracking as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to grow. In addition to calling people, they can use this option.

“In the past seven days, we have recorded an average of 130 new cases of COVID-19 every day,” said Dr. Susan Philip, San Francisco Deputy Health Officer and Infectious Disease Specialist. “Investigating these cases and information on close contacts and helping people isolate, quarantine and test is how we slow the spread of COVID-19.”

The city is rolling out a virtual assistance tool that many other counties are already using to complement case investigation and contact tracing work.

Philip says San Francisco has one of the strongest and most culturally competent research and contact research teams. In most cases, during a pandemic, the Department of Public Health reaches over 80% of people who test positive for COVID and close contacts. This tool is part of the state platform.

“San Francisco just moved our case investigation and contact tracing system to the state system called Cal Connect. This tool is now available,” Philip said.

Start with a text provided at the number provided at the time of the test.

“It leads to an online survey on your smartphone. The virtual assistant is a tool we use together with our more than 200 team members, the virtual assistant is as confidential as a call from the health department from our covid team,” he said Philip.

City residents who test positive will be notified and some will even receive a call. Further calls can be directed to areas with disproportionate cases, with the idea of ​​concentrating resources there too.

“We don’t give up on reaching anyone,” Philip said.

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