Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department hiring for COVID-19 contact tracers
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department wants to fill 45 positions in its coronavirus case-and-contact investigation team.
Health department spokesperson Stacy Page told The News Tribune the existing 35-person staff is adequate for the current caseload. The new positions would help with a potential surge.
“Advertising for more contact tracers is part of our plan to establish the pipeline of contact tracers for surge capacity,” Page said in an email. “It’s unrelated to the slight uptick we’ve experienced in cases in recent days.”
Pierce County’s positive cases have seen a slow rise in the past two weeks. Saturday’s count of 33 new positive COVID-19 cases is the highest single-day total since May 8.
The health department announced Friday afternoon that the positions pay $27.68 per hour. Applicants should have a high school education level. Some positions may require a clinical license or specialized skills.
The positions are listed as lasting for between four and 150 days to fill temporary and full-time jobs.
The posting at WorkSource includes four options: case-and-contact investigators, facilities case-and-contact investigators, administrative support and lab coordinators.
The health department did not say how many positions are open in each of the four roles but added: “All 45 positions will support investigations work.”
The facility case-and-contact investigator job description includes navigating complex case investigation and contact tracing within health care facilities, knowing sanitation standards and medical laws, and presenting findings that are consistent with the state Department of Health’s standards. Candidates are required to have a medical license or certificate.
Case-and-contact investigators will interview people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 and provide appropriate isolation/quarantine guidance and determine a person’s close contacts during their infectious period.
The administrative support position is described as managing high volumes of information with attention to detail and supporting various teams.
A lab coordinator coordinates specimen collection, documentation, transportation and tracking of COVID-19 tests.
With COVID-19 disproportionately affecting Asian people, Pacific Islanders, Latinx, African American and Native Americans, TPCHD is looking for bilingual candidates in these communities.
Pierce County has approved more than $4.8 million to investigate confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to a government database. The funds have paid for the equipment, software and training up to 180 people for contact tracing and case investigation.
Pierce County was approved June 5 for Phase 2 of the state’s Safe Start plan. The application submitted by the county outlines plans to train 199 positions on the investigations team by September for the potential of a surge in COVID-19 cases.
