Contact tracing, a method that helps track and control the spread of infection, is slipping out of Hays County’s grip. With new cases spiking, limited testing, people not participating in contact tracing and backed up labs, the coronavirus is rapidly spreading.

The Hays County Health Department said it does contact tracing through crowd sourcing, which is when an individual is asked to inform people they have been in contact with that they tested positive. The county also calls residents to...