NJ contact tracers still hitting brick wall, getting little cooperation, Murphy says

State contact tracers are still meeting resistance from New Jerseyans suspected of having COVID-19 or who were likely exposed to the virus, marking a considerable obstacle to the state’s ability to prevent future outbreaks.

All told, nearly 20 percent of people phoned by a contact tracer didn’t respond, according to Gov. Phil Murphy on Friday at his COVID-19 press conference in Trenton. Meanwhile, half of those people reached wouldn’t hand over personal information for anyone they may have been in touch with, according to new data on the state’s COVID-19 dashboard.

That’s better than the 63 percent that state health officials reported last week.

“That means that individuals … are not aware that they’ve been exposed to COVID-19. These individuals could be your families, your friends or your coworkers,” State Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said Friday. “This puts residents at risk.”

New Jersey’s latest health data shows that the state’s Community Contact Tracing Corps now sits at 1,529 personnel, marking an addition of 185 from a week ago.

That comes out to 17.2 contact tracers per 100,000 New Jerseyans. The goal is 30 per 100,000 residents, Murphy said.

“This is not a witch hunt. It’s about saving lives. Work with our contact tracers,” he said on Friday.

In recent weeks, state and local health officials have been able to slow down some of the rebound of COVID-19.

The positivity rate among COVID-19 tests is 1.63 percent—an ideal number, according to Murphy. The rate of transmission, or hwo quickly the virus spreads, is 0.92. According to the governor, anything below 1 – where it stayed for most of July – is ideal.

But the state has seen the highest numbers in weeks of new daily COVID-19 cases – more than 3,281 over the past seven days – which Murphy and Persichilli said stems from large-scale house parties and crowds at outdoor bars—or at least at the lines to get into those establishments.

“We are not in the end zone,” Murphy said, warning that he might shut down bars if there is no improvement in compliance.

That means that individuals … are not aware that they’ve been exposed to COVID-19. These individuals could be your families, your friends or your coworkers.

— State Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli

There are currently 33 COVID-19 “hotspot states” and territories from which travelers into New Jersey should self-quarantine for 14 days. Compliance with the self-quarantine has been lackluster in New Jersey, according to state health officials.

At New Jersey’s airports, primarily Newark Liberty International Airport, travelers from these areas are expected to hand over contact information to local health officials who might follow up with them in an effort to prevent outbreaks coming in from over state lines. But, only between 5 and 10 percent of air travelers – or 1,000 surveys daily – have actually complied, Persichilli said.

In New York, failure to provide that info could yield fines up to $2,000, but Murphy has declined to mandate enforcement.