CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- As the State of Illinois hopes to have a contact tracing program in place by the end of the month to track people with COVID-19 and those they have come into close contact with, a community college has launched an online course to train workers for that and similar programs.
Oakton Community College is launching a new course to help students interested in becoming a public health contact tracer.
The self-paced, online course, which has been aligned with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) training guidelines for contact tracers, will cover COVID-19 and contact tracing, interpersonal skills and cross-cultural communication, technology proficiency, and job opportunities for contact tracers.
"It is an online course and students will complete it at their own pace - four modules, it is about 25 hours of course work," said Steve Butera, spokesperson for Oakton Community College.
Students will also explore health inequities and disparities, protecting health information, the role of health communication in disease prevention, and more, according to Oakton.
Contact tracers work from the safety of their own homes using their cell phone and internet connection to help health professionals discover who has the virus, who they have been in contact with, how the virus is spreading, and how to prevent it.
Preliminary information from the state and federal level suggest that more than 100,000 contact tracers are needed immediately to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
Designed with flexibility in mind, students will navigate pre-recorded video lectures, discussion boards, quizzes, exams, case studies, and more, according to Oakton.
The course is completely online and can be accessible by computer or your smartphone, although use of a computer is strongly suggested. This accelerated course can be completed in as little as three weeks, but students will have up to four weeks if needed.
Butera said it is possible some students could complete the training just as the state hopes to launch its contact tracing program, which could need as many as 3,800 workers.
Next class begins May 26. Registration is open and the cost is $299. Email continuingeducation@oakton.edu for information on upcoming sessions.
Governor Pritzker has said contact tracing is essential to limit the spread of COVID-19 and allow further easing of restrictions and the reopening of more of the state's economy.