To the Reader’s Forum:

At a time when COVID-19 cases are raging in our county, the Chautauqua County Department of Health has decided to end contact tracing. On Jan. 5, the Public Health Director stated, “You no longer should expect to receive a call from us, nor do you need to call us.”

With 852 cases reported last week, the Department of Health decided there are too many to keep track. Instead of trying to “just do some,” they “just won’t do any.” In other words, they are abandoning public health.

They have announced what people should do if they test positive. The Health Department concludes everyone understands current COVID protocols. They also assume our county’s population will carry out these protocols on their own.

When it comes to COVID-19, the “honor system” has proven time and time again that it does not work.

If this is the best the Chautauqua County Department of Health can do, I suggest they leave their jobs and dismantle the department. Clearly, this public health department isn’t doing the job we pay them to do.