1/ Q. How does #ContactTracing work again? How is that component of #TestTraceIsolate going so far?
A. Contact tracing is a tried and true #publichealth measure that’s been successfully used to contain other infectious diseases (see graphic). But there are challenges.
2/ When adapting this strategy for #COVID19:
First, because people are #contagious even BEFORE developing symptoms, tracing (identifying and notifying contacts) needs to happen quickly. But tracing takes time.
3/ There is also currently no #treatment to offer to individuals who test positive, so there is less personal incentive to cooperate. Instead, contacts are asked to #quarantine, not for their own benefit, but to reduce exposure to others.
4/ The period of quarantine, 14 days from the time of exposure, is a long one. This poses challenges in terms of time off from work--especially for those who cannot work from home.
5/ For contact tracing to succeed, there have to be enough tests to keep up with the pace of infection (and ideally, a faster turnaround for results). Few places in the US have met this goal.
6/ Several countries (including China, South Korea, and Germany) have successfully implemented contact tracing programs to #SlowtheSpread of the #coronavirus.
But in the US, there have been more difficulties...
7/ #NYC, the national epicenter of the #pandemic in March and April, began its contact tracing program on June 1.
The program relies on phone calls and home visits to reach cases and contacts, in part to allay privacy concerns of more technological approaches.
8/ STRENGTHS: Mobile #testing vans are planned for hard-hit neighborhoods. ~3000 contact tracers have been hired: more than half of whom are residents of communities most affected.
The city is also offering resources to contacts, such as paid hotel stays and food delivery.
9/ CHALLENGES: NYC statistics for the period of June 1-20: nychealthandhospitals.org/test-and-trace… report that tracers are often unable to locate infected people or gather their information.
For example, only ~42% of cases provided info about contacts. And few contacts wanted to stay in a hotel
10/ For more on the first few weeks of NYC’s contact tracing program: nytimes.com/2020/06/21/nyr…
And some practical strategies for building successful contact tracing programs to slow the spread of #COVID19 in the U.S.: catalyst.nejm.org/doi/full/10.10…
PHOTO CREDIT: …racingplaybook.resolvetosavelives.org
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