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Public health officials in many areas have complained the battle against COVID-19 is hampered by failure of many people to be honest about contact tracing. That is the process of learning where and from whom people contracted the disease. Obviously, not providing honest answers to health officials' questions gives the virus an edge.
Not in Harrison County. There, public health officials say residents have been gratifyingly open in the contact tracing process. "We're really grateful for the response from the Harrison County community so far," commented county health department Administrator Garen Rhome.
Could it be that honesty has helped limit the spread of COVID-19? Contact tracing is critical in finding those who have contracted the virus, perhaps with few symptoms, and keeping them from spreading it to others. Note that as of Thursday, Harrison County had recorded just 89 cases of the disease, while many other counties were numbering patients in the hundreds.
Perhaps honesty is not just the best policy -- but also the safest.