Covid-19 Contact Tracing Outcomes in Washington State, August and October 2020

Bibliographic Data

ID22070288
AuthorsRobert A Bonacci (0000-0002-7989-2093, Epidemic Intelligence Service, corresponding author), Lillian M Manahan (Washington State Department of Health), James S Miller (0000-0002-9987-479X, Washington State Department of Health), Patrick K Moonan (0000-0002-3550-2065, CDC Foundation), Missy B Lipparelli (Washington State Department of Health), Lisa M DiFedele (Washington State Department of Health), Lora Davis (0009-0000-4076-6535, Washington State Department of Health), Lora B Davis, R Ryan Lash (0000-0002-7171-2748, Epidemic Intelligence Service), John E Oeltmann (0000-0002-9728-8746, CDC Foundation)
Year2021
Volume9
Pages782296-782296
Publication date2021-11-26
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2021.782296
PMID34900921
OpenAlexW3217593866
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited18

Introduction: Case investigation and contact tracing are important tools to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2, particularly when implemented efficiently. Our objective was to evaluate participation in and timeliness of COVID-19 contact tracing and whether these measures changed over time. Methods: We retrospectively assessed COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing surveillance data from the Washington State centralized program for August 1–31, 2020 and October 1–31, 2020. We combined SARS-CoV-2 testing reports with contact tracing data to compare completeness, reporting of contacts, and program timeliness. Results: For August and October respectively, 4,600 (of 12,521) and 2,166 (of 16,269) individuals with COVID-19 were referred to the state program for case investigation. Investigators called 100% of referred individuals; 65% (August) and 76% (October) were interviewed. Of individuals interviewed, 33% reported contacts in August and 45% in October, with only mild variation by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and urbanicity. In August, 992 individuals with COVID-19 reported a total of 2,584 contacts (mean, 2.6), and in October, 739 individuals reported 2,218 contacts (mean, 3.0). Among contacts, 86% and 78% participated in interviews for August and October. The median time elapsed from specimen collection to contact interview was 4 days in August and 3 days in October, and from symptom onset to contact interview was 7 days in August and 6 days in October. Conclusions: While contact tracing improved with time, the proportion of individuals disclosing contacts remained below 50% and differed minimally by demographic characteristics. The longest time interval occurred between symptom onset and test result notification. Improving elicitation of contacts and timeliness of contact tracing may further decrease SARS-CoV-2 transmission

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak · Betacoronavirus · Contact tracing · Coronavirus Infections · Disease · Outbreak · Pandemic · Pathology · COVID-19 Digital Contact Tracing · COVID-19 epidemiological studies · Data-Driven Disease Surveillance · Medicine · Virology

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