Inslee announces contact tracing initiative

OLYMPIA—Gov. Jay Inslee announced the launch of a statewide contact tracing plan on Tuesday, May 12 that will allow more businesses to open and more people to be active in public while helping to slow and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“Contact tracing is another tool in our toolbox for tackling COVID-19 in Washington,” Inslee said. “While we need to continue physical distancing, this will allow us to get a better handle on who gets sick and how the virus is spread, which is vital to re-opening our economy.”

Local health departments will lead these efforts and the state Department of Health and its partners will support this work.

The information collected is only used by public health professionals and is confidential. It will not be shared. Contacts will not be told the name of the person who may have exposed them to COVID-19.