“Citizen contact tracers”

(KMIZ TV) “The Cole County (MO) Health Department said in a Thursday morning news release it restructured how the department handles contact tracing. The new process instructs residents who have tested positive, to be their own contact tracers. […] Previously, health department staff reached out to people who may have been exposed to COVID-19. Now, that responsibility is in the hands of Cole County residents. […] The department said this was done in an effort to cut down on wait time and cut down on residents who may be unknowingly transmitting the virus.”

Sounds like the health department is overwhelmed. And “starting next week the department will no longer report active cases.” Uh oh.

So, we we won’t know how bad things really are? As for relying on friends and neighbors to let me know they might have exposed me to the virus… yeah, right.