The City of San Antonio employs a team of more than 100 contact tracers to monitor residents who test positive for COVID-19. Contact tracers need to quickly locate and talk with coronavirus patients, assist in arranging for patients to isolate themselves, and work with patients to identify people with whom the patients have been in close contact so the contact tracer can locate them as well.
A lot of their calls are going unanswered because people don't recognize the number and think it's a scam. Here's how to tell the difference:
--A contact tracer calling on behalf of Metro Health will have a number that shows up as 210-207-____. Either answer or call back.
--A real contact tracer’s interview takes between five and 15 minutes. The contact tracer will provide you education and recommendations. A fake tracer will ask for even more personal information. Protect yourself.
--Do not give out your social security number, bank account, credit card number or immigration status. You will never need to pay a contact tracer, so do not give them money. Plus, if you get a text message or email from a contact tracer, never click on a link. Legitimate tracers do not ask you download anything.
--You could put the community in danger if you do not return a real contact tracer’s call so, if in doubt, call Metro Health to check if a contact tracer contacted you.
(Kens5) Photo: Getty/newannyart