Ilinois Representative Jesus Garcia urged Governor Pritzker to make sure that Hispanics will be hired as contact tracers because of their knowledge about the community, according to a recently published article.

COVID-19 Cases and Death Toll in the State of Illinois

The United States still remains as the country with the highest number of infections and COVID-19 death cases. As of today, the country has recorded more than 1.8 million infections and a death toll of more than 106,000 according to worldometers.

One of the hardest-hit states in the country is the state of Illinois which has recorded more than 120,000 cases and a death toll of more than 5,300. Additionally, the Latino and Hispanic communities are the most affected by the global pandemic in the state.

This makes Illinois the third state in the country with the highest number of COVID-19 cases and death toll. According to the data obtained from worldometers, they are just below from New York and New Jersey.

The population of Latinos and Hispanics in Illinois

Overall, Latinos are considered as the largest minority group in the U.S. with more than 32 million and they are followed by the African-Americans. The population presented do not include undocumented immigrants.

In a 2019 census, Illinois has a total population of 12.6 million. Hispanics and Latinos have accounted for around 17 percent or nearly 2.1 million. The group is next to the White-Americans and they are followed by the African-Americans.

Rep. Garcia Urged the state Governor to Hire the Latinos and Hispanics

Hispanics and Latinos are playing a very important role in Illinois not only in the upcoming election bust also in contact tracing. Rep. Garcia told Governor Pritzker, "Keep in mind, Governor, there is a body of these folks who are experienced, who people trust and they know how to knock on doors when it is safe to do so."

Garcia said this during the Facebook Live when he discussed the negative impacts of the global pandemic to the Latino and Hispanic communities. Latinos have a disproportionate share on the number of infections in the state.

Meanwhile, Gov. Pritzker asserted that there are 66 sites in the state where there are vast numbers of Hispanics. During his discussion with Garcia, he emphasized the efforts of the state in hiring more contact tracers to control the pandemic.

Moreover, Garcia, who is the only Hispanic Congressman in the state, has been doing its best to combat COVID-19 particularly for the immigrants no matter what their status is. Either they are legally or illegally staying in the state.

What is the Job All About and How to Apply?

During the state briefing, the governor said: With Illinois' daily availability of testing among the best in the nation now, we want to grow our voluntary contact tracing so that we can further control and reduce the rate of spread of COVID-19 and stop outbreaks in their tracks."

The job of the contact tracer is to help the government by patching together people who have contact direct contacts with persons who are diagnosed with the virus so that they can be tested. Through this, the number of infections will be controlled.

The governor encouraged those who are interested to work as Contact Tracers most especially the Latinos and Hispanics to apply through the Illinois Department of Public Health website at dph.illinois.gov/COVID19.

Take note also that the hiring process will be done by county and health departments while the state will act as the clearinghouse for applications and will help pay for the salaries.

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