Tracing COVID-19 with a barebones staff

Pennsylvania has one of the least funded public health departments in the country, which is making it more difficult to contain the coronavirus.

Listen 21:17
Public health nurses are needed to do the contact tracing necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19, but there is a shortage in Pennsylvania. (Bigstock/ Nosnibor137)

Public health nurses are needed to do the contact tracing necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19, but there is a shortage in Pennsylvania. (Bigstock/ Nosnibor137)

Listen to The Why wherever you get your podcasts:
Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | RadioPublic | TuneIn


Pennsylvania has one of the least funded public health departments in the country, making it more difficult to contain the coronavirus. Suddenly in need of contact tracers, the state finds itself with a barebones staff of nurses to do that work. When their job is done right, those nurses say they prevent disease outbreaks — so it’s harder to see the important role they play. Now, the governor wants to create a “civilian corps” to fill the void.

Guest: Aneri Pattani, Spotlight PA

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal