Current Events > New Yorkers not picking up phone for contact tracers get subpoenas.

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/07/ny-partygoers-get-subpoenas-after-stonewalling-covid-19-contact-tracers/

On Wednesday, officials in Rockland Countyjust north of New York Cityreported a cluster of cases linked to a recent party of up to 100 people largely in their early 20s. At the time of the party, the host was infected and had symptoms but held the party anyway. So far, at least eight attendees have tested positive for the virus. But many partygoers have refused to work with public health officials to track the potential spread and notify others who may have been infected and could go on to spread the disease further. We are not receiving the necessary cooperation when we contact those who are positive for COVID-19 or those who have been at some of these gatherings, Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert, Rockland Countys health commissioner said at a press briefing Wednesday.

She explained: My staff has been told that a person does not wish to, or have to, speak to my disease investigators. They hang up. They deny being at the party even though we have found their name from another party attendee or a parent provides us with the information. Many do not answer their cell phones and do not call back. Sometimes parents answer for their adult children and promise that they have been home consistently when they have not been. This must stop. In response, Ruppert announced that the county will issue subpoenas to anyone who refuses to cooperate with contact tracing. So far, the county is processing eight subpoenas. In addition, those who do not comply will face civil fines of around $2,000 every day they are out of compliance. Ruppert went on to note that the young people exposed could go on to spread the virus to vulnerable people in the community, including older relatives, people with underlying health conditions, and young children who may be at risk of developing a severe inflammatory disorder. And even though young adults have relatively less risk of severe outcomes than other groups, they too could become seriously ill.

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Didnt they say that they cant ask about if you had been to any protests? Defeats the purpose.

ohiostate124 posted...

Didnt they say that they cant ask about if you had been to any protests? Defeats the purpose.

It does defeat the purpose and we are probably witness the early stages of another NY spike. This contact tracing thing is a failure. People aren't gonna answer the phone or even door for strangers when will they learn.

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ohiostate124 posted...

Didnt they say that they cant ask about if you had been to any protests? Defeats the purpose.

They can't force you to say if you've been to a protest, but they can force you, apparently under penalty of fine, to say whether you've been to a party or not.

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they can force you to say if you've been in contact with someone they know is infected.

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