COVID-19 Case Investigation and Contact Tracing Efforts from Health Departments — United States, June 25–July 24, 2020
Kimberly D. Spencer, Christina Lee Chung, Alison Stargel, Alvin Shultz, Phoebe Thorpe, Marion W. Carter, Melanie M Taylor, Mary McFarlane, Dale A. Rose, Margaret A. Honein, Henry T. Walke · MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report · 2021
(IQR = 0.62-1.76), and a median of 55% of contacts were notified within 24 hours of identification by a patient (IQR = 32%-79%). With higher caseloads, the percentage of patients interviewed within 24 hours of case report was lower (Spearman coefficient = -0.68), and the number of contacts identified per patient prioritized for interview also decreased (Spearman coefficient = -0.60). The capacity to conduct timely contact tracing varied among health departments, largely driven by investigators' caseloads. Incomplete identification of contacts affects the ability to reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Enhanced staffing capacity and ability and improved community engagement could lead to more timely interviews and identification of more contacts.