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Observational Study
. 2021 Oct;46(5):918-921.
doi: 10.1007/s10900-021-00974-5. Epub 2021 Mar 10.

COVID-19 Case Investigation and Contact Tracing in Central Washington State, June-July 2020

James S Miller  1   2   3 , Robert A Bonacci  4   5 , R Ryan Lash  4   5 , Patrick K Moonan  5 , Peter Houck  6 , J Joyous Van Meter  7 , Malcolm Butler  7 , Teresa Everson  8 , Brittany Morrison  8 , Melissa Sixberry  8 , Amy Person  9 , John E Oeltmann  5
Affiliations
Observational Study

COVID-19 Case Investigation and Contact Tracing in Central Washington State, June-July 2020

James S Miller et al. J Community Health. 2021 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate participation in COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing in central Washington State between June 15 and July 12, 2020.

Methods: In this retrospective observational evaluation we combined SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR and antigen test reports from the Washington Disease Reporting System with community case investigation and contact tracing data for 3 health districts (comprising 5 counties) in central Washington State. All 3 health districts have large Hispanic communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

Results: Investigators attempted to call all referred individuals with COVID-19 (n = 4,987); 71% were interviewed. Of those asked about close contacts (n = 3,572), 68% reported having no close contacts, with similar proportions across ethnicity, sex, and age group. The 968 individuals with COVID-19 who named specific contacts (27% of those asked) reported a total of 2,293 contacts (mean of 2.4 contacts per individual with COVID-19); 85% of listed contacts participated in an interview.

Conclusions: Most individuals with COVID-19 reported having no close contacts. Increasing community engagement and public messaging, as well as understanding and addressing barriers to participation, are crucial for CICT to contribute meaningfully to controlling the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; Case investigation; Community engagement; Contact tracing; Participation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

References

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