5 things to know about contact tracing at IU
By Amanda Roach
August 27, 2021
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Contact tracing is a public health strategy used to help separate people who have tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 from the rest of the community and identify anyone who may have been exposed to the individual during their infectious period.
1. IU has its own team of contact tracers.
Early on in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, IU established a full team of contact tracers. The team manages all of the communications about quarantine and isolation for those who are close contacts or test positive for COVID-19. In addition, they interview all individuals with a positive test result to ensure we can accurately identify close contacts and reach out to them as well.
2. We’ll be in touch quickly.
If you receive a positive COVID-19 test result through any of IU’s testing (COVID Check, voluntary, symptomatic), you can expect to receive an email to your IU email address from the contact tracing team. The email will include a link to a short form with questions about your contact info, your COVID-19 test and whether you’re having any symptoms.
A contact tracer personally calls each person with a positive test or who has been identified as a close contact to gather more information and provide other health and safety instructions.
3. If you test positive or are notified of being a close contact outside of IU, let us know.
Some people may choose to be tested outside of IU’s testing at a retail location or your physician’s office, for example. If you receive a positive test result through any testing outside of IU, use IU’s self-reporting form to let the university know about your positive test. This will allow the contact tracing team to reach out and provide further instructions.
Also use the self-reporting form if you’re notified that you’re a close contact (a family member tests positive, for example).
4. Your official source for quarantine and isolation instructions.
IU’s contact tracers are very well trained on all the nuances of quarantine and isolation for both individuals who are vaccinated and those who are not. They will provide instructions for your specific situation as well as get you set up with IU’s symptom monitoring, which you’ll use through the duration of your quarantine or isolation. This allows for IU’s COVID nursing team to monitor your situation and to follow up with you should your condition worsen.
5. Your official source for the OK to end quarantine and isolation.
IU’s COVID nursing team will keep an eye on individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 or were a close contact and will give the official OK to end their quarantine/symptom monitoring or isolation period. Once you receive this notice via text and/or email, you’ll be cleared to go back to your normal routine.
Check out more information on contact tracing at IU in our FAQ.
Amanda Roach is a senior communications consultant in the Office of the Vice President for Communications and Marketing.