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. 2021 Jun;42(2):211-221.
doi: 10.1057/s41271-021-00285-y. Epub 2021 Jun 4.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: the race to trace: contact tracing scale-up in San Francisco-early lessons learned

Michael Reid  1   2 , Wayne Enanoria  3   4 , Juliet Stoltey  4 , Susan Philip  3   4 , Jonathan Fuchs  4 , Amy Lockwood  4 , Elizabeth Krueger  4 , Karen White  3 , Jessica Celentano  3 , George Rutherford  3 , Susan Scheer  4 , Trang Nguyen  4 , Darpun Sachdev  4
Affiliations

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: the race to trace: contact tracing scale-up in San Francisco-early lessons learned

Michael Reid et al. J Public Health Policy. 2021 Jun.

Abstract

In order to effectively control spread of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), it is essential that jurisdictions have the capacity to rapidly trace close contacts of each and every case. Best practice guidance on how to implement such programs is urgently needed. We describe the early experience in the City and County of San Francisco (CCSF), where the City's Department of Health expanded contact tracing capability in anticipation of changes in San Francisco's 'shelter in place' order between April and June 2020. Important prerequisites to successful scale-up included a rapid expansion of the COVID-19 response workforce, expansion of testing capability, and other containment resources. San Francisco's scale-up offers a model for how other jurisdictions can rapidly mobilize a workforce. We underscore the importance of an efficient digital case management system, effective training, and expansion of supportive service programs for those in quarantine or isolation, and metrics to ensure continuous performance improvement.

Keywords: COVID-19; Contact tracing; Containment; Epidemiology.

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Conflict of interest statement

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Current contact tracing workflow
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Illustrative COVID-19 contact tracing indicators. a Indicators deriving from the index case continuum. 1Denominator: XXX COVID-19 Cases assigned for case interview. 2Numerator: # COVID-19 Cases with a complete or partial interview assignment. (DEFINITION). 3Numerator: # COVID-19 Cases who named at least one locatable contact; of those who named contacts, 4Numerator: # COVID-19 Cases who named at least one contact who was notified of COID-19 exposure as a result of Contact Investigation. 5Numerator: COVID-19 Cases who named at least one contact who was a newly identified infection. b Indicators deriving from the contacts continuum. 1Denominator: XXX contact assigned. 2Numerator: # COVID-19 contacts with a complete or partial interview assignment. 3Numerator: # COVID-19 contacts who named at least one locatable contact; of those who named contacts. 4Numerator: # COVID-19 Cases who named at least one contact who was notified of COVID-19 exposure as a result of Contact Investigation. 5Numerator: COVID-19 Cases who named at least one contact who was a newly identified infection
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. CDC. Principles of contact tracing Atlanta, GA. 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/principles-contact-tracing.... Accessed 30 Apr 2020.
    1. Office of San Francisco Mayor, London Breed. San Francisco takes the following actions following emergency declaration. February, 2020. https://sfmayor.org/article/city-san-francisco-takes-action-following-em.... Accessed 1 May 1 2020.
    1. Sachdev DD, Brosnan HK, Reid MJA, Kirian M, Cohen SE, Nguyen TQ, et al. Outcomes of contact tracing in San Francisco, California-test and trace during shelter-in-place. JAMA Intern Med. 2020 doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.5670. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Order of the health officer No. C19-07b Department of Public Health, City and County of San Francisco. 2020. https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/files/HealthOfficerOrder-C19-07b-Shelte.... Accessed 26 Apr 2020.
    1. San Francisco COVID-19 Data and Reports. 2020. https://data.sfgov.org/stories/s/fjki-2fab.

MeSH terms