Thread by @LazarusLong13

Had the idea of fixing the contact tracing form.


But CDC isn't doing contact tracing - (thank you Ian!),


but their training feeds into the states, which feed the counties, etc))

Tried acccessing the website that all of the states/ local authorities use to develop their contact tracing forms:
cdcpartners.sharepoint.com/Sites/CSTLTS/C…

But it's locked down.

Poked around Washington State's website, and couldn't find any actual forms.

All good.

Let's a look at the CDC's contact tracing information (that feeds the states, etc), and see how it's letting us down.

cdc.gov/coronavirus/20… - literally says, "Contact Tracing slows the spread of CoVid-19"

Maybe. But since we are

literally the absolute worst at CoVid?

statista.com/statistics/110…

Clearly, we are not doing it, correctly.

So, what is our contact tracing based on?

Key information to collect during a case interview.
cdc.gov/coronavirus/20…

The most important part? Close Contacts.

And what is the definition of close contact?

Anyone within 6 feet for a cumulative of 15 minutes within 24 hours.

Except if they're a kid - and then they are excluded if 3 to 6 feet away and wearing a well-fitted mask.

Quick note - the kid exception is

cdc.gov/coronavirus/20…

really, really

Anyway, where does the close contact definition come from?

Per this:
cnn.com/2020/10/21/hea…

From this:
cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/6…

Highlights:
July 28, 2020 - a prison guard had 22 brief encounters, for a total of 17 minutes with 6 prisoners.
July 29, 2020 - all 6 tested positive

The guard had 2 other contacts - those people did not test positive.
All interactions were on video.
The guard was in a microfiber cloth mask and goggles the entire time.

So, ocular infection in this case was eliminated.

Anyway - was he infected from repeated exposures?

Possibly, but not probably.

No, he was probably infected during only one of those interactions.

But is that the end of the story?

It shouldn't be.

Where, oh where, can we possibly find someone who could help us see if there's a better definition of close contact?

Would you believe - the CDC?

wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/27…

People infected from 45 feet away, with Patient Zero actually facing away from those he/she infected.

Caught on video. Genomically confirmed.

So, that would seem to be good place for the @CDCDirector begin to change the

definition to:
"Shared space up to 45 feet away for any amount of time."

And then, we will be closer to actually having contact tracing slow down transmission.

Until then, we only have Contact Tracing Theater.

Enjoy the show - though I hope you enjoyed this thread more.