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How do investigations work after Spokane patients test positive for COVID-19?

Epidemiologists call everyone who tests positive for the 2019 novel coronavirus and asks them a series of questions in what they a call a "contact investigation."

SPOKANE, Wash. — Three confirmed cases of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Spokane County are no surprise to local health experts. They had expressed concerns about the virus spreading in the Spokane area weeks before the county had any confirmed cases.

Even though the Spokane Regional Health District knew people in Spokane had coronavirus, the lack of confirmed cases made it hard for them to take action.

Now that the county has confirmed cases, the health dstrict can start what they call '"contact investigations."

Spokane County Health Officer Dr. Bob Lutz said his epidemiologists call every person who tests positive for COVID 19.

"We talk about the individual first. Are you married? Are you living with somebody? Is someone a frequent visitor? Do you have kids? Are they having any symptoms?" Lutz said.

After the initial questions, the epidemiologist then asks the person with the positive case about everywhere they've been and anyone they have been in contact with.

RELATED: Three confirmed cases of coronavirus in Spokane County, health officials say

The health district then proceeds to call every person who has been in contact with the person with a positive case. That process can take hours.

The Health District will ask anyone they call to monitor any potential symptoms and they would ask any person who was in close contact with the confirmed case to quarantine themselves.

"So it's a ripple effect," Lutz said.

RELATED: Several cases of COVID-19 have ties to Spokane area schools

That ripple effect is the reason some people might get a call from the Spokane Regional Health District.

But Lutz said the most important thing is that the community continues working together to stop the coronavirus spread by working on personal hygiene and social distancing.

RELATED: What is social distancing?

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