Contact tracing of COVID-19 a primary focus for new public health job in Cook County

Cook County hired a public health educator in June to continue the local effort to prepare for, and contain the spread of COVID-19 in the community. Hired for this new position in local government is longtime Cook County resident Kristin DeArruda Wharton.

One focus area for this position with regard to the new coronavirus involves contact tracing when there are more confirmed cases in the county. In addition to contact tracing, the public health educator is coordinating with local businesses to help them with business models as they pertain to COVID-19 safety and compliance. This is a new, permanent position for the local public health and human services department.

WTIP’s Joe Friedrichs spoke with DeArruda Wharton about the first few weeks in her new role as the public health educator in Cook County, including what she has learned about contact tracing for the new coronavirus.