Contact tracing systems to reduce COVID-19 spread have led to frustration and mixed results world-wide. One public housing project in the United States, however, can be proud of their achievement. There, community spirit accomplished results that beleaguered public health agencies could only admire.
When COVID-19 first showed up at the Sunnydale housing project, community residents set up an informal contact tracing system to limit the number of people who would be infected. Within two weeks, the rate of infection among people who were tested went from 9.2% to 1%. This is an unusual pattern in southeast part of San Francisco, where neighbourhoods have had a high rate of COVID infections.
The article linked below recounts how the residents worked to make it happen. They used informal connections to reach out to possible spreaders and encouraged them to get tested. Residents also used informal connections with the local university and health clinics to advocate for testing so they could monitor their progress. More, tenants teamed up to deliver food and other essentials to people when they needed to self-isolate.
This story illustrates how a hyper-local initiative worked effectively by using networks and connections. We won’t know whether it would have worked in other areas where infection levels were very high, but the results indicate it could be worth testing on a broader scale.
The story is a reminder that large projects which are homes for people with low incomes can be vibrant and resourceful communities. The buildings may look shabby. They may even be run-down. But there often are strong connections between residents that help them to manage, even in an emergency.
Read more about this story at MISSION LOCAL: Sunnydale Locals Flatten A Public Housing COVID-19 Outbreak
