Coronavirus: San Francisco lays out plan to do the most comprehensive contact tracing in the country

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The City of San Francisco announced Wednesday a comprehensive contact tracing project that is the first of its kind in the country -- and it's a critical tool in the reopening of the economy.

For those hearing the term "contact tracing" for the first time, it is simply the ability of public health officials to track down everyone that a COVID-19 positive patient came into contact with.

You can imagine that as the number of cases have grown, this task becomes more complicated.

In partnership with UCSF and technology company, Dimagi, Mayor London Breed announced a program that intends to train thousands in the Bay Area to do the extensive investigations, which include interviews and regular communication with those who have come into contact with COVID-19 patients.

To date, 50 people have been trained and in two weeks, the city plans to have 150 people trained from government workers to librarians to medical students.

Dr. Grant Colfax, the city's public health director, emphasized that the investigations will be voluntary and it will not question anyone's immigration status.

"If people see the value of this work, it will be successful," he said.

The mayor said the the success of the contact tracing project will be a crucial tool that will help lead the city back to normalcy. But, she warned residents that city must move slowly.

The plan is to scale up the program to thousands of investigators, working across the region.

If you have a question or comment about the coronavirus pandemic, submit yours via the form below or here.

Get the latest news, information and videos about the novel coronavirus pandemic here

RELATED STORIES & VIDEOS:

• Live updates about coronavirus outbreak in US, around the world
• Coronavirus data: See how the curve of COVID-19 cases is bending in each Bay Area county
• Everything you need to know about the Bay Area's shelter-in-place order
• Coronavirus Doctor's Note: Dr. Alok Patel gives his insight into COVID-19 pandemic
• Stimulus calculator: How much money should you expect from coronavirus relief bill
• WATCH: ABC7's interactive town hall 'Race and Coronavirus: A Bay Area Conversation'
• What Bay Area tenants need to know about rent payments, eviction amid COVID-19 outbreak
• Here's how shelter in place, stay at home orders can slow spread of COVID-19
• Coronavirus Timeline: Tracking major moments of COVID-19 pandemic in San Francisco Bay Area/
• Coronavirus and the new normal of living in the San Francisco-Bay Area -- COVID-19 Diaries
• Happy hour goes virtual as people try to be sociable while social distancing during COVID-19 crisis
• Coronavirus Outbreak: Here's why you should practice 'social distancing'
• DRONEVIEW7: What the Bay Area looks like during the coronavirus shelter-in-place
• ABC7's drive around San Francisco shows empty streets, businesses shuttered
• Symptoms, prevention, and how to prepare for a COVID-19 outbreak in the US
• List of stores, companies closing due to coronavirus pandemic
• Canceled late fees, free services available amid COVID-19 crisis
• Here's how you can help during COVID-19 pandemic
• How to maintain learning during school closures
• No masks but here are 100+ products that may help protect you against novel coronavirus germs
• Here's a look at some of history's worst pandemics that have killed millions
• Asian community fighting racism, xenophobia, bigotry as world fights COVID-19