Russ's Ravings: Ignoring COVID Contact Tracers Should Be A Crime

Editor's note: The following is Patch Field Editor Russ Crespolini's, hopefully, weekly column. It is reflective of his opinion alone.

At a Nov. 30 afternoon news conference, Governor Phil Murphy announced that 69 percent of individuals contacted as part of tracing efforts refused to provide contacts. 20 percent of individuals did not "take the call."

Two percent of contacts refused to participate at all, according to the governor.

What. Are. You. Thinking.

We are trying to ride out another wave in this COVID-19 pandemic and in the midst of it all, I see a report from a colleague that nearly 70 percent of New Jersey residents are not cooperating with contact tracers.

Are we having fun? Is this something we want to continue and to allow to spread?

Folks we can kind of almost see some light at the end of this long, godawful tunnel. There are vaccines on the horizon, and we are on the precipice to start pulling ourselves out of this spiral we've been in since March.

But you know what will make these coming weeks more difficult? Having gatherings and then refusing to help inform people they were around the plague monkey. That is more than irresponsible, that is criminal and it should be treated as such.

Here is the thing, I am well aware that people are going to continue to have gatherings because they believe they know better. They believe it won't happen to them or that their survival chances are great.

Sure these are ignorant and myopic views, but yeah, there are people out there fighting mask mandates and demanding their right to Applebees at gunpoint. But these views exist and to a lesser extent allow underage Halloween drinking parties, extended family Thanksgiving dinners and who knows what else for Christmas.

My point is that these things are going to happen because people are selfish. But when they do happen, and when they get the call that they were exposed and try to trace back the infection point to the source to help others.

Take the call.

"Please take the call, please cooperate with them," Murphy said. "I can't say it enough - there is no witch hunt. Our contact tracers are not out to snitch on anyone. Their sole focus is making sure that you know you've been exposed so you can take the steps to protect yourselves or your loved ones or your community. Period."

There is a lot that Murphy and I disagree on. But the man climbed out of a hospital bed after cancer surgery to lead the Garden State through the COVID-19 crisis. There is a lot he has gotten right and a lot he has gotten wrong.

In my opinion, as someone who did not vote for him, he has gotten far more right than he has wrong. And that is most likely why his approval ratings are so high.

I know for a fact he has this right. If the call comes in from a contact tracer, take the call and cooperate.

"This is not a witch hunt. This is about protecting you, your loved ones, and your community," Murphy said.

At this point, I would say we need may want to get the pitchforks and torches out. (Metaphorically. Relax.)

Do we want indoor sports to resume in January? Do we want to be able to get into nursing homes without exhausting our rapid testing supplies? Well, then we need to contact trace and for that we need cooperation.

So those who don't cooperate should be penalized. And I don't say this lightly. There should be a specific executive order compelling cooperation and charges and a hefty fine for those who refuse to work with the contact tracers.

This is bigger than you. This is bigger than your personal beliefs. It is time for 100 percent of us to play ball, or pay the literal price.

Russ Crespolini is a Field Editor for Patch Media, adjunct professor and college newspaper advisor. His columns have won awards from the National Newspaper Association and the New Jersey Press Association.

He writes them in hopes of connecting with readers and engaging with them. And because it is cheaper than therapy. He can be reached at russ.crespolini@patch.com