Chicago Amps Up Contact Tracing Program

Chicago officials announced dozens of community organizations Monday that’ll help with the city’s effort to hire hundreds of contact tracers in the fight against COVID-19. Mayor Lori Lightfoot first announced the $56 million initiative in May, saying the positions would be filled in August. Chicago will work with 31 community groups to hire 500 others for contact tracing and supervising positions that’ll pay either $20 or $24 hourly. Federal grants will pay for the program. Contact tracing is a routine public health strategy to limit the spread of infectious diseases. Currently, the city’s Department of Public Health has been contacting those who’ve tested COVID-19 positive and worked with them to reach others they’ve had close contact with.