Allan Jeffries Framing on Third Street has implemented a form of contact tracing for customers as an added safety measure during the pandemic. (photo by Jose Herrera)

A local business has taken a novel approach to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Three weeks ago, Allan Jeffries Framing launched its own form of contact tracing.

All customers that visit the store are now asked to provide their name, phone number and email so they may be contacted if others present during their visit test positive for the virus. Store employees, who all don protective wear including masks and plastic face shields, keep track of when a customer enters and leaves.

“We decided we didn’t want to be a problem. We wanted to be part of the solution to the problem,” said Allan Jeffries Marion, who founded his custom frame shop on West Third Street 35 years ago. “I want to inspire other businesses to do this.”

City policies have yet to mandate local businesses to take similar measures, although Los Angeles County continues to ramp up its contact tracing efforts. Contact tracing is the process of reconstructing the interactions of a sick person from the time they were infected until the time they were diagnosed and quarantined. There are now approximately 1,500 contact tracers working for the county. Participants complete a survey delving into where they’ve been and with whom they’ve interacted. As an incentive, participants receive a $20 gift card.

Throughout Los Angeles County, cases of COVID-19 continue to increase. As of Aug. 3, there have been at least 195,614 reported cases and 4,758 deaths.

Marion estimated that roughly 150 people a week now visit the store. All but one person, he said, have participated in the voluntary program and to his knowledge, no one has yet tested positive for COVID-19.

“For the most part, we’ve had a really great response,” he said. “We’re ready if it happens.”

While face masks, social distancing and good hygiene – including hand-washing – are touted as the three essential pillars in curbing the spread, testing for the virus and isolating if infected or possibly infected are absolutely critical. Successfully contacting and then contact tracing those who are infected is imperative to stopping the spread of COVID-19.

“The goal of contact tracing is to reduce transmission,” said Dr. Lee Hilborne, UCLA Health professor of pathology and laboratory medicine and a member of Beverly Hills’ Medical Advisory Task Force. “If someone is identified as positive, the most important thing is to encourage them to tell those who may have been exposed … for their own safety and the safety of others. It’s all about taking every step necessary to reduce the transmission.”

Hilborne said businesses taking similar measures would be helpful on a widespread basis.

“We have to turn this into something that we do,” he said.

Hilborne added that contact tracing has proved particularly effective in several international locations, including South Korea and Taiwan. Locally, he added, nursing homes are increasing their efforts and finding success.

“It’s pretty effective in the places where it has been used,” Hilborne said. “We all need to take this very seriously. And if we do, we can change what’s going on.”

Marion, who said that roughly 60% of his clients are repeat customers, is hopeful that the decision to implement a form of contact tracing will make a difference in the fight against COVID-19. Particularly given that his shop is even allowed to be open during the pandemic, he wanted to model a practice he believes will save lives.

“Maybe it will catch the eye of City Hall and they will make it a mandate,” Marion said. “I think it’s one of the most valuable things you can do.”