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  • Fri. Nov 22nd, 2024

Positive coronavirus patients missed as contact tracers struggle with soaring case numbers

Positive coronavirus patients missed as contact tracers struggle with soaring case numbers

Two people whose entire households contracted COVID-19 have accused the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) of not contacting them and being slow to pass on information.

Key points:

  • Some COVID-19 patients say health authorities haven’t contacted them after positive tests
  • Department of Health and Human Services contact tracers are stretched to the limit by surge in cases
  • Doctors are concerned that things will get worse if the pandemic is not brought under control

With hundreds of new cases being detected each day in Victoria, it is becoming harder for contact tracers to track down everyone those people have come into contact with.

Doctors warn that delays in notifying close contacts could lead to even greater numbers of unknown cases spreading the virus.

‘I haven’t received a phone call’

Charlie Di Lorenzo lives with his parents and two daughters.

They have been in isolation after they all contracted COVID-19.

MCU of Charlie Di Lorenzo wearing a brown top, white baseball cap and with earphones in his ears.

Charlie Di Lorenzo still hadn’t been contacted by health authorities 14 days after testing positive.(Supplied: Charlie Di Lorenzo)

“Mum got sick, so she got tested and came back positive,” he told 7.30.

“Mum got hospitalised the day after she got the test result back. She was in hospital over a week and a half.

“Dad went into hospital as well, he was in there five days.

“Both at home now, recovering, which is good.”

Despite giving all his details to the DHHS, Mr Di Lorenzo is surprised that no-one has contacted him or his son t

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