WVU in the News: Ragtag army of virus tracers shapes up with states hiring fast
U.S. health experts say a force of as many as 300,000 contact tracers is crucial for coast-to-coast reopening in the wake of the new coronavirus. So far, though, the country has a far smaller ragtag army that’s many weeks, if not months, from full deployment.
West Virginia University will offer a 14-hour online course to train as many as 300 tracers, ideally National Guard members or those with health backgrounds. But the force will be unpaid, according to Allison Adler, a spokesperson for the state health and human resources department.
“By initially focusing on volunteers and students we will be able to assess the feasibility, sustainability and need for paid employees,” Adler said.
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