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Conderino S, E Thorpe L, Shilpi Islam N, A Berry C, Bendik S, Massar R, Hong C, Fair A, Bershteyn A. Evaluation of the New York City COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing program: a cascade of care analysis. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:2356. [PMID: 39210385 PMCID: PMC11363647 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19838-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND New York City (NYC) was the first COVID-19 epicenter in the United States and home to one of the country's largest contact tracing programs, NYC Test & Trace (T2). Understanding points of attrition along the stages of program implementation and follow-up can inform contact tracing efforts for future epidemics or pandemics. The objective of this study was to evaluate the completeness and timeliness of T2 case and contact notification and monitoring using a "cascade of care" approach. METHODS This cross-sectional study included all SARS-CoV-2 cases and contacts reported to T2 from May 31, 2020 to January 1, 2022. Attrition along the "cascade of care" was defined as: (1) attempted, (2) reached, (3) completed intake (main outcome), (4) eligible for monitoring, and (5) successfully monitored. Timeliness was assessed: (1) by median days from a case's date of testing until their positive result was reported to T2, (2) from result until the case was notified by T2, and (3) from a case report of a contact until notification of the contact. RESULTS A total of 1.45 million cases and 1.38 million contacts were reported to T2 during this period. For cases, attrition occurred evenly across the first three cascade steps (~-12%) and did not change substantially until the Omicron wave in December 2021. During the Omicron wave, the proportion of cases attempted dropped precipitously. For contacts, the largest attrition occurred between attempting and reaching (-27%), and attrition rose with each COVID-19 wave as contact volumes increased. Attempts to reach contacts discontinued entirely during the Omicron wave. Overall, 67% of cases and 49% of contacts completed intake interviews (79% and 57% prior to Omicron). T2 was timely, with a median of 1 day to receive lab results, 2 days to notify cases, and < 1 day to notify contacts. CONCLUSIONS T2 provided a large volume of NYC residents with timely notification and monitoring. Engagement in the program was lower for contacts than cases, with the largest gap coming from inability to reach individuals during call attempts. To strengthen future test-and-trace efforts, strategies are needed to encourage acceptance of local contact tracer outreach attempts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Conderino
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Lorna E Thorpe
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nadia Shilpi Islam
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Carolyn A Berry
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stefanie Bendik
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rachel Massar
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chuan Hong
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew Fair
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anna Bershteyn
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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Elder AS, Arrouzet CJ, Miljacic L, Karras BT, Higgins A, West LM, Lorigan D, Revere D, Polissar N, Segal CD, Lober WB, Baseman JG. Evaluation of the effectiveness of Washington State's digital COVID-19 exposure notification system over one pandemic year. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1408178. [PMID: 39206001 PMCID: PMC11349652 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1408178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Digital exposure notifications are a novel public health intervention used during the COVID-19 pandemic to alert users of possible COVID-19 exposure. We seek to quantify the effectiveness of Washington State's digital exposure notification system, WA Notify, as measured by the number of COVID-19 cases averted during a 1-year period. Methods While maintaining individuals' privacy, WA Notify collected data that could be used to evaluate the system's effectiveness. This article uses these and other data and builds on a previous model to estimate the number of cases averted by WA Notify. Novel estimates of some model parameters are possible because of improvements in the quality and breadth of data reported by WA Notify. Results We estimate that WA Notify averted 64,000 (sensitivity analysis: 35,000-92,000) COVID-19 cases in Washington State during the study period from 1 March 2021 to 28 February 2022. During this period, there were an estimated 1,089,000 exposure notifications generated and 155,000 cases reported to WA Notify. During the last 78 days of the study period, the median estimated number of daily active users was 1,740,000. Discussion We believe WA Notify reduced the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Washington State and that similar systems could reduce the impact of future communicable disease outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam S. Elder
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Cory J. Arrouzet
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Ljubomir Miljacic
- The Mountain-Whisper-Light: Statistics & Data Science, Seattle, WA, United States
| | | | - Amanda Higgins
- Washington State Department, Tumwater, WA, United States
| | - Laura M. West
- Washington State Department, Tumwater, WA, United States
| | - Daniel Lorigan
- Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Informatics, School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Debra Revere
- Department of Health Systems and Population Health, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Nayak Polissar
- The Mountain-Whisper-Light: Statistics & Data Science, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Courtney D. Segal
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - William B. Lober
- Washington State Department, Tumwater, WA, United States
- Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Informatics, School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Janet G. Baseman
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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Castonguay FM, Borah BF, Jeon S, Rainisch G, Kelso P, Adhikari BB, Daltry DJ, Fischer LS, Greening B, Kahn EB, Kang GJ, Meltzer MI. The public health impact of COVID-19 variants of concern on the effectiveness of contact tracing in Vermont, United States. Sci Rep 2024; 14:17848. [PMID: 39090157 PMCID: PMC11294356 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-68634-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Case investigation and contact tracing (CICT) are public health measures that aim to break the chain of pathogen transmission. Changes in viral characteristics of COVID-19 variants have likely affected the effectiveness of CICT programs. We estimated and compared the cases averted in Vermont when the original COVID-19 strain circulated (Nov. 25, 2020-Jan. 19, 2021) with two periods when the Delta strain dominated (Aug. 1-Sept. 25, 2021, and Sept. 26-Nov. 20, 2021). When the original strain circulated, we estimated that CICT prevented 7180 cases (55% reduction in disease burden), compared to 1437 (15% reduction) and 9970 cases (40% reduction) when the Delta strain circulated. Despite the Delta variant being more infectious and having a shorter latency period, CICT remained an effective tool to slow spread of COVID-19; while these viral characteristics did diminish CICT effectiveness, non-viral characteristics had a much greater impact on CICT effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- François M Castonguay
- National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections, Health Economics and Modeling Unit, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Modeling Support Team, Contact Tracing and Innovation Section (CTIS), State Local Tribal and Territorial (STLT) Task Force, CDC COVID-19 Response; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Health Management, Evaluation and Policy, University of Montreal School of Public Health, and Centre for Public Health Research - CReSP, 7101 Avenue du Parc, 3e étage, Montréal, QC, H3N 1X9, Canada.
| | - Brian F Borah
- Vermont Department of Health, Burlington, USA
- Epidemic Intelligence Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Seonghye Jeon
- National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections, Health Economics and Modeling Unit, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Modeling Support Team, Contact Tracing and Innovation Section (CTIS), State Local Tribal and Territorial (STLT) Task Force, CDC COVID-19 Response; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Gabriel Rainisch
- National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections, Health Economics and Modeling Unit, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Modeling Support Team, Contact Tracing and Innovation Section (CTIS), State Local Tribal and Territorial (STLT) Task Force, CDC COVID-19 Response; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Patsy Kelso
- Vermont Department of Health, Burlington, USA
| | - Bishwa B Adhikari
- National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections, Health Economics and Modeling Unit, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Modeling Support Team, Contact Tracing and Innovation Section (CTIS), State Local Tribal and Territorial (STLT) Task Force, CDC COVID-19 Response; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Leah S Fischer
- National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections, Health Economics and Modeling Unit, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Modeling Support Team, Contact Tracing and Innovation Section (CTIS), State Local Tribal and Territorial (STLT) Task Force, CDC COVID-19 Response; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Bradford Greening
- National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections, Health Economics and Modeling Unit, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Modeling Support Team, Contact Tracing and Innovation Section (CTIS), State Local Tribal and Territorial (STLT) Task Force, CDC COVID-19 Response; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Emily B Kahn
- National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections, Health Economics and Modeling Unit, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Modeling Support Team, Contact Tracing and Innovation Section (CTIS), State Local Tribal and Territorial (STLT) Task Force, CDC COVID-19 Response; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Gloria J Kang
- National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections, Health Economics and Modeling Unit, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Modeling Support Team, Contact Tracing and Innovation Section (CTIS), State Local Tribal and Territorial (STLT) Task Force, CDC COVID-19 Response; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Martin I Meltzer
- National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections, Health Economics and Modeling Unit, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Modeling Support Team, Contact Tracing and Innovation Section (CTIS), State Local Tribal and Territorial (STLT) Task Force, CDC COVID-19 Response; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Jiao J, Chen W. Core health system measures response to COVID-19 among East Asian countries. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1385291. [PMID: 38887248 PMCID: PMC11180828 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1385291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective The purpose of this study is to summarize the health system response to COVID-19 in four East Asian countries, analyze the effectiveness of their health system response, and provide lessons for other countries to control the epidemic and optimize their health system response. Methods This study investigated and summarized COVID-19 data and health system response in four East Asian countries, China, Japan, Mongolia, and South Korea from national governments and ministries of health, WHO country offices, and official websites of international organizations, to assess the effectiveness of health system measures. Result As of June 30, 2022, all four countries are in a declining portion of COVID-19. China has two waves, and new cases increased slowly, with the total cases per million remaining within 4, indicating a low level. Japan has experienced six waves, with case growth at an all-time high, total cases per million of 250.994. Mongolia started the epidemic later, but also experienced four waves, with total cases per million of 632.658, the highest of the four countries. South Korea has seen an increasing number of new cases per wave, with a total case per million of 473.759. Conclusion In containment strategies adopted by China and Mongolia, and mitigation strategies adopted by Japan and South Korea, health systems have played important roles in COVID-19 prevention and control. While promoting vaccination, countries should pay attention to non-pharmaceutical health system measures, as evidenced by: focusing on public information campaigns to lead public minds; strengthening detection capabilities for early detection and identification; using technical ways to participate in contact tracing, and promoting precise judging isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Jiao
- School of Population and Health, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Yichun Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yichun, Jiangxi, China
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Park Y, Ryu B, Park E, Kim H, Kim G, Cho J, Kim YD, Tak S, Choe YJ. Tracing the Untraceables: A Joint Outbreak Investigation With Law Enforcement Using a Geographic Information System. Health Secur 2024; 22:183-189. [PMID: 38722247 DOI: 10.1089/hs.2023.0082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The application of geospatial data often allows the tracing of people who are involved in activities of an illegal nature. In June 2021, we estimated the true magnitude of the spread of COVID-19 within the networks of escort-karaoke bars in Seoul, Republic of Korea, using geographic information system (GIS)-based contact tracing that was applied to our epidemiological investigation. Our joint rapid response team, composed of epidemic investigation officers and police personnel, identified 19 paper-traced cases and 158 GIS-traced cases from 5,692 confirmed cases in Seoul during the study period (June to July 2021). Our findings suggest that collaboration with law enforcement agencies and the use of overlaid satellite imagery in outbreak investigations enhances high vigilance and reduces the risk of potential breaches of human rights in the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoojin Park
- Yoojin Park,* MPH, is an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer, Division of Infectious Diseases Control, Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul
| | - Boyeong Ryu
- Boyeong Ryu,* PhD, is an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer, Division of Public Health Emergency Response Research, at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, in the Republic of Korea
| | - Eonjoo Park
- Eonjoo Park, MPH, is an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer, Division of Emerging Infectious Disease Response, at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, in the Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunjung Kim
- Hyunjung Kim, MPH, is an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer, Division of Public Health Emergency Response Research, at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, in the Republic of Korea
| | - GwangJin Kim
- GwangJin Kim is an Assistant Inspector, Division of National Security Investigation, Gwangju Nambu Police Station, Gwangju, in the Republic of Korea
| | - Jonghee Cho
- Jonghee Cho, MD, MPH, is Team Lead, Bukbu Hospital, Seoul, in the Republic of Korea
| | - Young Dea Kim
- Young Dea Kim is a Public Health Officer, Gangnam Public Health Center, Seoul, in the Republic of Korea
| | - Sangwoo Tak
- Sangwoo Tak, ScD, MPH, is Director, Division of Risk Assessment, at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Cheongju, in the Republic of Korea
| | - Young June Choe
- Young June Choe, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, in the Republic of Korea
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Martignoni MM, Arino J, Hurford A. Is SARS-CoV-2 elimination or mitigation best? Regional and disease characteristics determine the recommended strategy. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:240186. [PMID: 39100176 PMCID: PMC11295893 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.240186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic varied across the world. Some countries (e.g. mainland China, New Zealand and Taiwan) implemented elimination strategies involving strict travel measures and periods of rigorous non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in the community, aiming to achieve periods with no disease spread; while others (e.g. many European countries and the USA) implemented mitigation strategies involving less strict NPIs for prolonged periods, aiming to limit community spread. Travel measures and community NPIs have high economic and social costs, and there is a need for guidelines that evaluate the appropriateness of an elimination or mitigation strategy in regional contexts. To guide decisions, we identify key criteria and provide indicators and visualizations to help answer each question. Considerations include determining whether disease elimination is: (1) necessary to ensure healthcare provision; (2) feasible from an epidemiological point of view and (3) cost-effective when considering, in particular, the economic costs of travel measures and treating infections. We discuss our recommendations by considering the regional and economic variability of Canadian provinces and territories, and the epidemiological characteristics of different SARS-CoV-2 variants. While elimination may be a preferable strategy for regions with limited healthcare capacity, low travel volumes, and few ports of entry, mitigation may be more feasible in large urban areas with dense infrastructure, strong economies, and with high connectivity to other regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria M. Martignoni
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Canada
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, A. Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Julien Arino
- Department of Mathematics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Amy Hurford
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Canada
- Biology Department and Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Canada
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7
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Staatz C, Loosier PS, Hsu R, Fiscus M, Gupta R, Sabin ER, Vohra D, Matulewicz H, Taylor MM, Caruso EC, DeLuca N, Moonan PK, Oeltmann JE, Thorpe P. Experience of Public Health Departments in Implementation of COVID-19 Case Investigation and Contact Tracing Programs. Public Health Rep 2024:333549241239556. [PMID: 38779998 DOI: 10.1177/00333549241239556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Case investigation and contact tracing (CI/CT) are fundamental public health efforts widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic to mitigate transmission. This study investigated how state, local, and tribal public health departments used CI/CT during the COVID-19 pandemic, including CI/CT methodology, staffing models, training and support, and efforts to identify or prioritize populations disproportionately affected by COVID-19. METHODS During March and April 2022, we conducted key informant interviews with up to 3 public health officials from 43 state, local, and tribal public health departments. From audio-recorded and transcribed interviews, we used the framework method to analyze key themes. RESULTS Major adjustments to CI/CT protocols during the pandemic included (1) prioritizing populations for outreach; (2) implementing automated outreach for nonprioritized groups, particularly during COVID-19 surges; (3) discontinuing contact tracing and focusing exclusively on case investigation; and (4) adding innovations to provide additional support. Key informants also discussed the utility of having backup staffing to support overwhelmed public health departments and spoke to the difficulty in "right-sizing" the public health workforce, with COVID-19 surges leaving public health departments understaffed as case rates rose and overstaffed as case rates fell. CONCLUSIONS When addressing future epidemics or outbreaks, public health officials should consider strategies that improve the effectiveness of CI/CT efforts over time, such as prioritizing populations based on disproportionate risk, implementing automated outreach, developing models that provide flexible additional staffing resources as cases rise and fall among local public health departments, incorporating demographic data in laboratory reporting, providing community connections and support, and having a system of self-notification of contacts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Penny S Loosier
- Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Michelle Fiscus
- National Academy for State Health Policy, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Melanie M Taylor
- Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Elise C Caruso
- Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nickolas DeLuca
- Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Patrick K Moonan
- Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - John E Oeltmann
- Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Phoebe Thorpe
- Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Matulewicz HH, Vohra D, Crawford-Crudell W, Oeltmann JE, Moonan PK, Taylor MM, Couzens C, Weiss A. Representativeness of a national, probability-based panel survey of COVID-19 isolation practices-United States, 2020-2022. FRONTIERS IN EPIDEMIOLOGY 2024; 4:1379256. [PMID: 38737986 PMCID: PMC11082340 DOI: 10.3389/fepid.2024.1379256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) received surveillance data on how many people tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, but there was little information about what individuals did to mitigate transmission. To fill the information gap, we conducted an online, probability-based survey among a nationally representative panel of adults living in the United States to better understand the behaviors of individuals following a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result. Given the low response rates commonly associated with panel surveys, we assessed how well the survey data aligned with CDC surveillance data from March, 2020 to March, 2022. We used CDC surveillance data to calculate monthly aggregated COVID-19 case counts and compared these to monthly COVID-19 case counts captured by our survey during the same period. We found high correlation between our overall survey data estimates and monthly case counts reported to the CDC during the analytic period (r: +0.94; p < 0.05). When stratified according to demographic characteristics, correlations remained high. These correlations strengthened our confidence that the panel survey participants were reflective of the cases reported to CDC and demonstrated the potential value of panel surveys to inform decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - John E. Oeltmann
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Patrick K. Moonan
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Melanie M. Taylor
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | | | - Andy Weiss
- Mathematica, Cambridge, MA, United States
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Bayly H, Stoddard M, Van Egeren D, Murray EJ, Raifman J, Chakravarty A, White LF. Looking under the lamp-post: quantifying the performance of contact tracing in the United States during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:595. [PMID: 38395830 PMCID: PMC10893709 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18012-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Contact tracing forms a crucial part of the public-health toolbox in mitigating and understanding emergent pathogens and nascent disease outbreaks. Contact tracing in the United States was conducted during the pre-Omicron phase of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This tracing relied on voluntary reporting and responses, often using rapid antigen tests due to lack of accessibility to PCR tests. These limitations, combined with SARS-CoV-2's propensity for asymptomatic transmission, raise the question "how reliable was contact tracing for COVID-19 in the United States"? We answered this question using a Markov model to examine the efficiency with which transmission could be detected based on the design and response rates of contact tracing studies in the United States. Our results suggest that contact tracing protocols in the U.S. are unlikely to have identified more than 1.65% (95% uncertainty interval: 1.62-1.68%) of transmission events with PCR testing and 1.00% (95% uncertainty interval 0.98-1.02%) with rapid antigen testing. When considering a more robust contact tracing scenario, based on compliance rates in East Asia with PCR testing, this increases to 62.7% (95% uncertainty interval: 62.6-62.8%). We did not assume presence of asymptomatic transmission or superspreading, making our estimates upper bounds on the actual percentages traced. These findings highlight the limitations in interpretability for studies of SARS-CoV-2 disease spread based on U.S. contact tracing and underscore the vulnerability of the population to future disease outbreaks, for SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry Bayly
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Eleanor J Murray
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Julia Raifman
- Department of Health Law, Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Laura F White
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
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Jeon S, Watson-Lewis L, Rainisch G, Chiu CC, Castonguay FM, Fischer LS, Moonan PK, Oeltmann JE, Adhikari BB, Lawman H, Meltzer MI. Adapting COVID-19 Contact Tracing Protocols to Accommodate Resource Constraints, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 2021. Emerg Infect Dis 2024; 30:333-336. [PMID: 38181801 PMCID: PMC10826771 DOI: 10.3201/eid3002.230988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Because of constrained personnel time, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (Philadelphia, PA, USA) adjusted its COVID-19 contact tracing protocol in summer 2021 by prioritizing recent cases and limiting staff time per case. This action reduced required staff hours to prevent each case from 21-30 to 8-11 hours, while maintaining program effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gabriel Rainisch
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (S. Jeon, G. Rainisch, F.M. Castonguay, L.S. Fischer, P.K. Moonan, J.E. Oeltmann, B.B. Adhikari, M.I. Meltzer)
- Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA (L. Watson-Lewis, C.-C. Chiu, H. Lawman)
- University of Montreal School of Public Health, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (F.M. Castonguay)
| | - Chu-Chuan Chiu
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (S. Jeon, G. Rainisch, F.M. Castonguay, L.S. Fischer, P.K. Moonan, J.E. Oeltmann, B.B. Adhikari, M.I. Meltzer)
- Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA (L. Watson-Lewis, C.-C. Chiu, H. Lawman)
- University of Montreal School of Public Health, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (F.M. Castonguay)
| | - François M. Castonguay
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (S. Jeon, G. Rainisch, F.M. Castonguay, L.S. Fischer, P.K. Moonan, J.E. Oeltmann, B.B. Adhikari, M.I. Meltzer)
- Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA (L. Watson-Lewis, C.-C. Chiu, H. Lawman)
- University of Montreal School of Public Health, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (F.M. Castonguay)
| | - Leah S. Fischer
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (S. Jeon, G. Rainisch, F.M. Castonguay, L.S. Fischer, P.K. Moonan, J.E. Oeltmann, B.B. Adhikari, M.I. Meltzer)
- Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA (L. Watson-Lewis, C.-C. Chiu, H. Lawman)
- University of Montreal School of Public Health, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (F.M. Castonguay)
| | - Patrick K. Moonan
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (S. Jeon, G. Rainisch, F.M. Castonguay, L.S. Fischer, P.K. Moonan, J.E. Oeltmann, B.B. Adhikari, M.I. Meltzer)
- Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA (L. Watson-Lewis, C.-C. Chiu, H. Lawman)
- University of Montreal School of Public Health, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (F.M. Castonguay)
| | - John E. Oeltmann
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (S. Jeon, G. Rainisch, F.M. Castonguay, L.S. Fischer, P.K. Moonan, J.E. Oeltmann, B.B. Adhikari, M.I. Meltzer)
- Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA (L. Watson-Lewis, C.-C. Chiu, H. Lawman)
- University of Montreal School of Public Health, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (F.M. Castonguay)
| | - Bishwa B. Adhikari
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (S. Jeon, G. Rainisch, F.M. Castonguay, L.S. Fischer, P.K. Moonan, J.E. Oeltmann, B.B. Adhikari, M.I. Meltzer)
- Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA (L. Watson-Lewis, C.-C. Chiu, H. Lawman)
- University of Montreal School of Public Health, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (F.M. Castonguay)
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11
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Aranda Z, Vázquez S, Gopaluni A, Martínez L, Ramírez M, Jiménez A, Bernal D, Rodríguez AL, Chacón S, Vargas B, Fulcher IR, Barnhart DA. Evaluation of the implementation of a community health worker-led COVID-19 contact tracing intervention in Chiapas, Mexico, from March 2020 to December 2021. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:97. [PMID: 38233915 PMCID: PMC10795220 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-10590-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mexico is one of the countries with the greatest excess death due to COVID-19. Chiapas, the poorest state in the country, has been particularly affected. Faced with an exacerbated shortage of health professionals, medical supplies, and infrastructure to respond to the pandemic, the non-governmental organization Compañeros En Salud (CES) implemented a COVID-19 infection prevention and control program to limit the impact of the pandemic in the region. We evaluated CES's implementation of a community health worker (CHW)-led contact tracing intervention in eight rural communities in Chiapas. METHODS Our retrospective observational study used operational data collected during the contract tracing intervention from March 2020 to December 2021. We evaluated three outcomes: contact tracing coverage, defined as the proportion of named contacts that were located by CHWs, successful completion of contact tracing, and incidence of suspected COVID-19 among contacts. We described how these outcomes changed over time as the intervention evolved. In addition, we assessed associations between these three main outcomes and demographic characteristics of contacts and intervention period (pre vs. post March 2021) using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS From a roster of 2,177 named contacts, 1,187 (54.5%) received at least one home visit by a CHW and 560 (25.7%) had successful completion of contact tracing according to intervention guidelines. Of 560 contacts with complete contact tracing, 93 (16.6%) became suspected COVID-19 cases. We observed significant associations between sex and coverage (p = 0.006), sex and complete contact tracing (p = 0.049), community of residence and both coverage and complete contact tracing (p < 0.001), and intervention period and both coverage and complete contact tracing (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Our analysis highlights the promises and the challenges of implementing CHW-led COVID-19 contact tracing programs. To optimize implementation, we recommend using digital tools for data collection with a human-centered design, conducting regular data quality assessments, providing CHWs with sufficient technical knowledge of the data collection system, supervising CHWs to ensure contact tracing guidelines are followed, involving communities in the design and implementation of the intervention, and addressing community member needs and concerns surrounding stigmatization arising from lack of privacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeus Aranda
- Partners In Health Mexico (Compañeros En Salud), Compañeros En Salud AC, Calle Primera Pte. Sur 25, Colonia Centro, Ángel Albino Corzo, 30370, Chiapas, México.
- Departamento de Salud, El Colegio de La Frontera Sur, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, México.
| | - Sandra Vázquez
- Partners In Health Mexico (Compañeros En Salud), Compañeros En Salud AC, Calle Primera Pte. Sur 25, Colonia Centro, Ángel Albino Corzo, 30370, Chiapas, México
| | - Anuraag Gopaluni
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Mayra Ramírez
- Partners In Health Mexico (Compañeros En Salud), Compañeros En Salud AC, Calle Primera Pte. Sur 25, Colonia Centro, Ángel Albino Corzo, 30370, Chiapas, México
| | - Ariwame Jiménez
- Partners In Health Mexico (Compañeros En Salud), Compañeros En Salud AC, Calle Primera Pte. Sur 25, Colonia Centro, Ángel Albino Corzo, 30370, Chiapas, México
| | - Daniel Bernal
- Escuela de Gobierno y Transformación Pública, Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey, Ciudad de Mexico, México
| | - Ana L Rodríguez
- Partners In Health Mexico (Compañeros En Salud), Compañeros En Salud AC, Calle Primera Pte. Sur 25, Colonia Centro, Ángel Albino Corzo, 30370, Chiapas, México
- Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública/Escuela de Salud Pública de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Selene Chacón
- Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública/Escuela de Salud Pública de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Bruno Vargas
- Partners In Health Mexico (Compañeros En Salud), Compañeros En Salud AC, Calle Primera Pte. Sur 25, Colonia Centro, Ángel Albino Corzo, 30370, Chiapas, México
| | - Isabel R Fulcher
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Data Science Initiative, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dale A Barnhart
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Partners In Health Rwanda (Inshuti Mu Buzima), Kigali, Rwanda
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12
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Hijano DR, Dennis SR, Hoffman JM, Tang L, Hayden RT, Gaur AH, Hakim H. Employee investigation and contact tracing program in a pediatric cancer hospital to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 among the workforce, patients, and caregivers. Front Public Health 2024; 11:1304072. [PMID: 38259752 PMCID: PMC10801179 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1304072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Case investigations and contact tracing are essential disease control measures used by health departments. Early in the pandemic, they were seen as a key strategy to stop COVID-19 spread. The CDC urged rapid action to scale up and train a large workforce and collaborate across public and private agencies to halt COVID-19 transmission. Methods We developed a program for case investigation and contact tracing that followed CDC and local health guidelines, compliant with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and tailored to the needs and resources of our institution. Program staff were trained and assessed for competency before joining the program. Results From March 2020 to May 2021, we performed 838 COVID-19 case investigations, which led to 136 contacts. Most employees reported a known SARS-CoV-2 exposure from the community (n = 435) or household (n = 343). Only seven (5.1%) employees were determined as more likely than not to have SARS-CoV-2 infection related to workplace exposure, and when so, lapses in following the masking recommendations were identified. Between June 2021-February 2022, our program adjusted to the demand of the different waves, particularly omicron, by significantly reducing the amount of data collected. No transmission from employees to patients or caregivers was observed during this period. Conclusion Prompt implementation of case investigation and contact tracing is possible, and it effectively reduces workplace exposures. This approach can be adapted to suit the specific needs and requirements of various healthcare settings, particularly those serving the most vulnerable patient populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego R. Hijano
- Departments of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Sandra R. Dennis
- Department of Human Resources, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - James M. Hoffman
- Department of Human Resources, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Li Tang
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Randall T. Hayden
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | | | - Aditya H. Gaur
- Departments of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Hana Hakim
- Office of Quality and Patient Safety, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, United States
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13
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Bayly H, Mei W, Egeren D, Stoddard M, Chakravarty A, White LF. Accuracy of Inferences About the Reproductive Number and Superspreading Potential of SARS-CoV-2 with Incomplete Contact Tracing Data. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3760127. [PMID: 38234843 PMCID: PMC10793487 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3760127/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
The basic reproductive number (R0) and superspreading potential ( k ) are key epidemiological parameters that inform our understanding of a disease's transmission. Often these values are estimated using the data obtained from contact tracing studies. Here we performed a simulation study to understand how incomplete data due to preferential contact tracing impacted the accuracy and inferences about the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Our results indicate that as the number of positive contacts traced decreases, our estimates of R0 tend to decrease and our estimates of ktend to increase. Notably, when there are large amounts of positive contacts missed in the tracing process, we can conclude that there is no indication of superspreading even if we know there is. The results of this study highlight the need for a unified public health response to transmissible diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Winnie Mei
- University of Washington School of Public Health
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14
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Zhang M, Payton C, Gurung A, Anglewicz P, Subedi P, Ali A, Ibrahim A, Haider M, Hamidi N, Atem J, Thang J, Wang S, Kim C, Kimball SL, Karaki F, Nazhat N, Abouagila M, Yun K. COVID-19 Infection and Contact Tracing Among Refugees in the United States, 2020-2021. J Immigr Minor Health 2023; 25:1239-1245. [PMID: 36586088 PMCID: PMC9803886 DOI: 10.1007/s10903-022-01441-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Refugees in the United States are believed to be at high risk of COVID-19. A cross-sectional study design was utilized to collect anonymous, online surveys from refugee communities in the United States during December 2020 to January 2021. We invited bilingual community leaders to share the survey link with other refugees aged ≥18 years. We identified factors associated with COVID-19 infection and measured the distribution of contact tracing among those who tested positive. Of 435 refugees who completed the survey, 26.4% reported testing positive for COVID-19. COVID-19 infection was associated with having an infected family member and knowing people in one's immediate social environment who were infected. Among respondents who tested positive, 84.4% reported that they had been contacted for contact tracing. To prepare for future pandemics, public health authorities should continue partner with refugee community leaders and organizations to ensure efficient programs are inclusive of refugee communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxi Zhang
- Department of Health Systems and Implementation Science, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, 24073, USA.
| | - Colleen Payton
- School of Nursing and Public Health, Moravian University, Bethlehem, PA, USA
| | - Ashok Gurung
- PolicyLab, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Philip Anglewicz
- Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Parangkush Subedi
- Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children and Families, US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington DC, USA
| | - Ahmed Ali
- Somali Health Board, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Anisa Ibrahim
- Pediatric Clinic, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Mahri Haider
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- International Medicine Clinic, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Jacob Atem
- Southern Sudan Healthcare Organization, Okemos, MI, USA
| | - Jenni Thang
- Department of Consulting Psychology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Siqin Wang
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Hongo, Japan
| | - Curi Kim
- Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children and Families, US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington DC, USA
| | - Sarah L Kimball
- Boston University School of Medicine, 72 E Concord St, Boston, MA, USA
- Immigrant and Refugee Health Center, Boston Medical Center, 725 Albany St, Suite 5B, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Fatima Karaki
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Mouammar Abouagila
- Refugee Resettlement and Placement Services, Lutheran Community Services Northwest, SeaTac, WA, USA
| | - Katherine Yun
- Division of General Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Philadelphia, 3401 Civic Center Blvd. , Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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15
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Taylor MM, Deb A, Frazier B, Lueken JR, Das M, Molke J, Fitzgerald E, Ullian T, Nair R, Couch M, Turbyfill C, Horter L, Joshi C, DeLuca N. Evaluation of the impact of guideline communication from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services among US healthcare providers: COVID-19 prevention counselling guidance. Nurs Open 2023; 10:7437-7445. [PMID: 37254439 PMCID: PMC10563432 DOI: 10.1002/nop2.1862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To evaluate healthcare provider awareness and uptake of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) billing for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention counselling and the delivery of prevention counselling to patients awaiting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 test results. DESIGN Cross sectional survey of US-based healthcare providers in February 2021. METHODS Analysis of associations with healthcare provider-reported awareness of CMS prevention counselling guidance and billing with provider type, specialty, and work setting. RESULTS A total of 1919 healthcare providers responded to the survey. Overall, 38% (726/1919) of providers reported awareness of available CMS reimbursement for COVID-19 patient counselling and 29% (465/1614) of CMS billing-eligible providers reported billing for this counselling. Among physicians, those aware of CMS guidance were significantly more likely to bill (58%) versus those unaware (10%). Among RNSights respondents eligible for CMS billing (n = 114), 31% of those aware of the guidance reported billing as compared to 0% of those not aware.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie M. Taylor
- COVID‐19 Response, State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support Task Force, Contact Tracing and Innovation SectionCenters for Disease Control and PreventionAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Arkaprava Deb
- Hospital and Ambulatory Policy GroupCenters for Medicare and Medicaid ServicesWoodlawnMarylandUSA
| | - Bernita Frazier
- COVID‐19 Response, State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support Task Force, Contact Tracing and Innovation SectionCenters for Disease Control and PreventionAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - James Reiss Lueken
- COVID‐19 Response, State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support Task Force, Contact Tracing and Innovation SectionCenters for Disease Control and PreventionAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Mansi Das
- Office of the Assistant Director of CommunicationsCenters for Disease Control and PreventionAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Caitlin Turbyfill
- COVID‐19 Response, State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support Task Force, Contact Tracing and Innovation SectionCenters for Disease Control and PreventionAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Libby Horter
- COVID‐19 Response, State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support Task Force, Contact Tracing and Innovation SectionCenters for Disease Control and PreventionAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Cecilia Joshi
- COVID‐19 Response, State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support Task Force, Contact Tracing and Innovation SectionCenters for Disease Control and PreventionAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Nickolas DeLuca
- COVID‐19 Response, State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Support Task Force, Contact Tracing and Innovation SectionCenters for Disease Control and PreventionAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
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16
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Pasquale DK, Welsh W, Olson A, Yacoub M, Moody J, Barajas Gomez BA, Bentley-Edwards KL, McCall J, Solis-Guzman ML, Dunn JP, Woods CW, Petzold EA, Bowie AC, Singh K, Huang ES. Scalable Strategies to Increase Efficiency and Augment Public Health Activities During Epidemic Peaks. JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICE 2023; 29:863-873. [PMID: 37379511 PMCID: PMC10549909 DOI: 10.1097/phh.0000000000001780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Scalable strategies to reduce the time burden and increase contact tracing efficiency are crucial during early waves and peaks of infectious transmission. DESIGN We enrolled a cohort of SARS-CoV-2-positive seed cases into a peer recruitment study testing social network methodology and a novel electronic platform to increase contact tracing efficiency. SETTING Index cases were recruited from an academic medical center and requested to recruit their local social contacts for enrollment and SARS-CoV-2 testing. PARTICIPANTS A total of 509 adult participants enrolled over 19 months (384 seed cases and 125 social peers). INTERVENTION Participants completed a survey and were then eligible to recruit their social contacts with unique "coupons" for enrollment. Peer participants were eligible for SARS-CoV-2 and respiratory pathogen screening. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The main outcome measures were the percentage of tests administered through the study that identified new SARS-CoV-2 cases, the feasibility of deploying the platform and the peer recruitment strategy, the perceived acceptability of the platform and the peer recruitment strategy, and the scalability of both during pandemic peaks. RESULTS After development and deployment, few human resources were needed to maintain the platform and enroll participants, regardless of peaks. Platform acceptability was high. Percent positivity tracked with other testing programs in the area. CONCLUSIONS An electronic platform may be a suitable tool to augment public health contact tracing activities by allowing participants to select an online platform for contact tracing rather than sitting for an interview.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana K. Pasquale
- Department of Population Health Sciences (Dr Pasquale), Department of Sociology (Drs Pasquale and Moody), Social Science Research Institute (Dr Welsh), Duke AI Health, School of Medicine (Messrs Olson and McCall), Duke Population Research Institute (Mr Yacoub), Duke Network Analysis Center (Dr Moody), Duke Office of Clinical Research, School of Medicine (Ms Barajas Gomez), Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity (Dr Bentley-Edwards), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering (Dr Dunn and Ms Singh), Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics (Drs Dunn and Huang), Department of Medicine, School of Medicine (Dr Woods), Duke Global Health Institute (Dr Woods), Center for Infectious Disease Diagnostics & Innovation (Drs Petzold and Bowie), and Department of Surgery (Dr Huang), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; LUMA Consulting, Durham, North Carolina (Ms Solis-Guzman); and Verily Life Sciences, South San Francisco, California (Dr Huang)
| | - Whitney Welsh
- Department of Population Health Sciences (Dr Pasquale), Department of Sociology (Drs Pasquale and Moody), Social Science Research Institute (Dr Welsh), Duke AI Health, School of Medicine (Messrs Olson and McCall), Duke Population Research Institute (Mr Yacoub), Duke Network Analysis Center (Dr Moody), Duke Office of Clinical Research, School of Medicine (Ms Barajas Gomez), Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity (Dr Bentley-Edwards), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering (Dr Dunn and Ms Singh), Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics (Drs Dunn and Huang), Department of Medicine, School of Medicine (Dr Woods), Duke Global Health Institute (Dr Woods), Center for Infectious Disease Diagnostics & Innovation (Drs Petzold and Bowie), and Department of Surgery (Dr Huang), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; LUMA Consulting, Durham, North Carolina (Ms Solis-Guzman); and Verily Life Sciences, South San Francisco, California (Dr Huang)
| | - Andrew Olson
- Department of Population Health Sciences (Dr Pasquale), Department of Sociology (Drs Pasquale and Moody), Social Science Research Institute (Dr Welsh), Duke AI Health, School of Medicine (Messrs Olson and McCall), Duke Population Research Institute (Mr Yacoub), Duke Network Analysis Center (Dr Moody), Duke Office of Clinical Research, School of Medicine (Ms Barajas Gomez), Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity (Dr Bentley-Edwards), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering (Dr Dunn and Ms Singh), Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics (Drs Dunn and Huang), Department of Medicine, School of Medicine (Dr Woods), Duke Global Health Institute (Dr Woods), Center for Infectious Disease Diagnostics & Innovation (Drs Petzold and Bowie), and Department of Surgery (Dr Huang), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; LUMA Consulting, Durham, North Carolina (Ms Solis-Guzman); and Verily Life Sciences, South San Francisco, California (Dr Huang)
| | - Mark Yacoub
- Department of Population Health Sciences (Dr Pasquale), Department of Sociology (Drs Pasquale and Moody), Social Science Research Institute (Dr Welsh), Duke AI Health, School of Medicine (Messrs Olson and McCall), Duke Population Research Institute (Mr Yacoub), Duke Network Analysis Center (Dr Moody), Duke Office of Clinical Research, School of Medicine (Ms Barajas Gomez), Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity (Dr Bentley-Edwards), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering (Dr Dunn and Ms Singh), Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics (Drs Dunn and Huang), Department of Medicine, School of Medicine (Dr Woods), Duke Global Health Institute (Dr Woods), Center for Infectious Disease Diagnostics & Innovation (Drs Petzold and Bowie), and Department of Surgery (Dr Huang), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; LUMA Consulting, Durham, North Carolina (Ms Solis-Guzman); and Verily Life Sciences, South San Francisco, California (Dr Huang)
| | - James Moody
- Department of Population Health Sciences (Dr Pasquale), Department of Sociology (Drs Pasquale and Moody), Social Science Research Institute (Dr Welsh), Duke AI Health, School of Medicine (Messrs Olson and McCall), Duke Population Research Institute (Mr Yacoub), Duke Network Analysis Center (Dr Moody), Duke Office of Clinical Research, School of Medicine (Ms Barajas Gomez), Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity (Dr Bentley-Edwards), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering (Dr Dunn and Ms Singh), Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics (Drs Dunn and Huang), Department of Medicine, School of Medicine (Dr Woods), Duke Global Health Institute (Dr Woods), Center for Infectious Disease Diagnostics & Innovation (Drs Petzold and Bowie), and Department of Surgery (Dr Huang), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; LUMA Consulting, Durham, North Carolina (Ms Solis-Guzman); and Verily Life Sciences, South San Francisco, California (Dr Huang)
| | - Brisa A. Barajas Gomez
- Department of Population Health Sciences (Dr Pasquale), Department of Sociology (Drs Pasquale and Moody), Social Science Research Institute (Dr Welsh), Duke AI Health, School of Medicine (Messrs Olson and McCall), Duke Population Research Institute (Mr Yacoub), Duke Network Analysis Center (Dr Moody), Duke Office of Clinical Research, School of Medicine (Ms Barajas Gomez), Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity (Dr Bentley-Edwards), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering (Dr Dunn and Ms Singh), Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics (Drs Dunn and Huang), Department of Medicine, School of Medicine (Dr Woods), Duke Global Health Institute (Dr Woods), Center for Infectious Disease Diagnostics & Innovation (Drs Petzold and Bowie), and Department of Surgery (Dr Huang), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; LUMA Consulting, Durham, North Carolina (Ms Solis-Guzman); and Verily Life Sciences, South San Francisco, California (Dr Huang)
| | - Keisha L. Bentley-Edwards
- Department of Population Health Sciences (Dr Pasquale), Department of Sociology (Drs Pasquale and Moody), Social Science Research Institute (Dr Welsh), Duke AI Health, School of Medicine (Messrs Olson and McCall), Duke Population Research Institute (Mr Yacoub), Duke Network Analysis Center (Dr Moody), Duke Office of Clinical Research, School of Medicine (Ms Barajas Gomez), Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity (Dr Bentley-Edwards), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering (Dr Dunn and Ms Singh), Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics (Drs Dunn and Huang), Department of Medicine, School of Medicine (Dr Woods), Duke Global Health Institute (Dr Woods), Center for Infectious Disease Diagnostics & Innovation (Drs Petzold and Bowie), and Department of Surgery (Dr Huang), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; LUMA Consulting, Durham, North Carolina (Ms Solis-Guzman); and Verily Life Sciences, South San Francisco, California (Dr Huang)
| | - Jonathan McCall
- Department of Population Health Sciences (Dr Pasquale), Department of Sociology (Drs Pasquale and Moody), Social Science Research Institute (Dr Welsh), Duke AI Health, School of Medicine (Messrs Olson and McCall), Duke Population Research Institute (Mr Yacoub), Duke Network Analysis Center (Dr Moody), Duke Office of Clinical Research, School of Medicine (Ms Barajas Gomez), Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity (Dr Bentley-Edwards), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering (Dr Dunn and Ms Singh), Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics (Drs Dunn and Huang), Department of Medicine, School of Medicine (Dr Woods), Duke Global Health Institute (Dr Woods), Center for Infectious Disease Diagnostics & Innovation (Drs Petzold and Bowie), and Department of Surgery (Dr Huang), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; LUMA Consulting, Durham, North Carolina (Ms Solis-Guzman); and Verily Life Sciences, South San Francisco, California (Dr Huang)
| | - Maria Luisa Solis-Guzman
- Department of Population Health Sciences (Dr Pasquale), Department of Sociology (Drs Pasquale and Moody), Social Science Research Institute (Dr Welsh), Duke AI Health, School of Medicine (Messrs Olson and McCall), Duke Population Research Institute (Mr Yacoub), Duke Network Analysis Center (Dr Moody), Duke Office of Clinical Research, School of Medicine (Ms Barajas Gomez), Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity (Dr Bentley-Edwards), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering (Dr Dunn and Ms Singh), Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics (Drs Dunn and Huang), Department of Medicine, School of Medicine (Dr Woods), Duke Global Health Institute (Dr Woods), Center for Infectious Disease Diagnostics & Innovation (Drs Petzold and Bowie), and Department of Surgery (Dr Huang), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; LUMA Consulting, Durham, North Carolina (Ms Solis-Guzman); and Verily Life Sciences, South San Francisco, California (Dr Huang)
| | - Jessilyn P. Dunn
- Department of Population Health Sciences (Dr Pasquale), Department of Sociology (Drs Pasquale and Moody), Social Science Research Institute (Dr Welsh), Duke AI Health, School of Medicine (Messrs Olson and McCall), Duke Population Research Institute (Mr Yacoub), Duke Network Analysis Center (Dr Moody), Duke Office of Clinical Research, School of Medicine (Ms Barajas Gomez), Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity (Dr Bentley-Edwards), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering (Dr Dunn and Ms Singh), Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics (Drs Dunn and Huang), Department of Medicine, School of Medicine (Dr Woods), Duke Global Health Institute (Dr Woods), Center for Infectious Disease Diagnostics & Innovation (Drs Petzold and Bowie), and Department of Surgery (Dr Huang), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; LUMA Consulting, Durham, North Carolina (Ms Solis-Guzman); and Verily Life Sciences, South San Francisco, California (Dr Huang)
| | - Christopher W. Woods
- Department of Population Health Sciences (Dr Pasquale), Department of Sociology (Drs Pasquale and Moody), Social Science Research Institute (Dr Welsh), Duke AI Health, School of Medicine (Messrs Olson and McCall), Duke Population Research Institute (Mr Yacoub), Duke Network Analysis Center (Dr Moody), Duke Office of Clinical Research, School of Medicine (Ms Barajas Gomez), Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity (Dr Bentley-Edwards), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering (Dr Dunn and Ms Singh), Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics (Drs Dunn and Huang), Department of Medicine, School of Medicine (Dr Woods), Duke Global Health Institute (Dr Woods), Center for Infectious Disease Diagnostics & Innovation (Drs Petzold and Bowie), and Department of Surgery (Dr Huang), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; LUMA Consulting, Durham, North Carolina (Ms Solis-Guzman); and Verily Life Sciences, South San Francisco, California (Dr Huang)
| | - Elizabeth A. Petzold
- Department of Population Health Sciences (Dr Pasquale), Department of Sociology (Drs Pasquale and Moody), Social Science Research Institute (Dr Welsh), Duke AI Health, School of Medicine (Messrs Olson and McCall), Duke Population Research Institute (Mr Yacoub), Duke Network Analysis Center (Dr Moody), Duke Office of Clinical Research, School of Medicine (Ms Barajas Gomez), Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity (Dr Bentley-Edwards), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering (Dr Dunn and Ms Singh), Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics (Drs Dunn and Huang), Department of Medicine, School of Medicine (Dr Woods), Duke Global Health Institute (Dr Woods), Center for Infectious Disease Diagnostics & Innovation (Drs Petzold and Bowie), and Department of Surgery (Dr Huang), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; LUMA Consulting, Durham, North Carolina (Ms Solis-Guzman); and Verily Life Sciences, South San Francisco, California (Dr Huang)
| | - Aleah C. Bowie
- Department of Population Health Sciences (Dr Pasquale), Department of Sociology (Drs Pasquale and Moody), Social Science Research Institute (Dr Welsh), Duke AI Health, School of Medicine (Messrs Olson and McCall), Duke Population Research Institute (Mr Yacoub), Duke Network Analysis Center (Dr Moody), Duke Office of Clinical Research, School of Medicine (Ms Barajas Gomez), Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity (Dr Bentley-Edwards), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering (Dr Dunn and Ms Singh), Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics (Drs Dunn and Huang), Department of Medicine, School of Medicine (Dr Woods), Duke Global Health Institute (Dr Woods), Center for Infectious Disease Diagnostics & Innovation (Drs Petzold and Bowie), and Department of Surgery (Dr Huang), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; LUMA Consulting, Durham, North Carolina (Ms Solis-Guzman); and Verily Life Sciences, South San Francisco, California (Dr Huang)
| | - Karnika Singh
- Department of Population Health Sciences (Dr Pasquale), Department of Sociology (Drs Pasquale and Moody), Social Science Research Institute (Dr Welsh), Duke AI Health, School of Medicine (Messrs Olson and McCall), Duke Population Research Institute (Mr Yacoub), Duke Network Analysis Center (Dr Moody), Duke Office of Clinical Research, School of Medicine (Ms Barajas Gomez), Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity (Dr Bentley-Edwards), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering (Dr Dunn and Ms Singh), Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics (Drs Dunn and Huang), Department of Medicine, School of Medicine (Dr Woods), Duke Global Health Institute (Dr Woods), Center for Infectious Disease Diagnostics & Innovation (Drs Petzold and Bowie), and Department of Surgery (Dr Huang), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; LUMA Consulting, Durham, North Carolina (Ms Solis-Guzman); and Verily Life Sciences, South San Francisco, California (Dr Huang)
| | - Erich S. Huang
- Department of Population Health Sciences (Dr Pasquale), Department of Sociology (Drs Pasquale and Moody), Social Science Research Institute (Dr Welsh), Duke AI Health, School of Medicine (Messrs Olson and McCall), Duke Population Research Institute (Mr Yacoub), Duke Network Analysis Center (Dr Moody), Duke Office of Clinical Research, School of Medicine (Ms Barajas Gomez), Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity (Dr Bentley-Edwards), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering (Dr Dunn and Ms Singh), Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics (Drs Dunn and Huang), Department of Medicine, School of Medicine (Dr Woods), Duke Global Health Institute (Dr Woods), Center for Infectious Disease Diagnostics & Innovation (Drs Petzold and Bowie), and Department of Surgery (Dr Huang), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; LUMA Consulting, Durham, North Carolina (Ms Solis-Guzman); and Verily Life Sciences, South San Francisco, California (Dr Huang)
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17
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Mevissen FEF, van Deursen B, Voeten HACM, Watzeels AJCM. 'We are not here to enforce; we are here for the people' Factors influencing performance of contact tracing during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study. J Public Health Res 2023; 12:22799036231208325. [PMID: 38020218 PMCID: PMC10676064 DOI: 10.1177/22799036231208325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Provider-initiated contact tracing (CT) is an important measure to slow down the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19. However, carrying out effective CT depends on the collaboration between the patient and the contact tracer. To improve CT, it is important to understand which factors influence contact tracers in being able to carry out CT during large pandemics. Methods We performed individual semi-structured interviews with nine contact tracers working for the COVID-19 unit of the Public Health Service (PHS) Rotterdam-Rijnmond, the Netherlands, to explore their experiences with carrying out CT. Data were collected between July 2020 and December 2020. The interview protocol was structured based on the CT tasks and guided by the literature and the framework explaining adherence to clinical practice guidelines. Results In general, CT seemed to be carried out satisfactorily. Individual factors (interviewing techniques and skills, attitude towards the patient and attitude towards CT), factors related to the patient (cooperativeness and engagement, emotions, language and culture and (mis)information), guideline-related factors (characteristics) and factors related to the organisation (interactions with colleagues, support from management, workload and training) were found to influence the carrying out of CT. Conclusion To be well prepared for future pandemics, it is important to explore strategies that can be effective to support the contact tracer in performing CT, support patients in feeling comfortable to be engaged and ways to reach more consistency in policies and protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fraukje EF Mevissen
- Public Health Service (GGD) Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Helene ACM Voeten
- Public Health Service (GGD) Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anita JCM Watzeels
- Public Health Service (GGD) Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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18
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Udeagu CCN, Gbedemah M, Pitiranggon M, Feldman S, Cordoba E, Goldenberg S, Keeley C, Blaney K, Vora NM, Long T. Integrating Contact Tracers Into Point-of-Care Testing Workflow to Accelerate the Tracing of People With Exposure to COVID-19, August-December 2020, New York City. JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICE 2023; 29:708-717. [PMID: 37290128 PMCID: PMC10373849 DOI: 10.1097/phh.0000000000001748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We assessed the timeliness of contact tracing following rapid-positive COVID-19 test result at point-of-care testing (POCT) sites in New York City (NYC). DESIGN Interviewed case-patients to elicit exposed contacts and conducted COVID-19 exposure notifications. SETTINGS Twenty-two COVID-19 POCT sites in NYC, the 2 NYC international airports, and 1 ferry terminal. PARTICIPANTS Case-patients with rapid-positive COVID-19 test results and their named contacts. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES We quantified the proportions of interviewed individuals with COVID-19 and notified contacts and assessed the timeliness between the dates of the rapid-positive COVID-19 test results and the interviews or notifications. RESULTS In total, 11 683 individuals with rapid-positive COVID-19 test results were referred for contact tracing on the day of their diagnosis; 8878 (76) of whom were interviewed within 1 day of diagnosis, of whom 5499 (62%) named 11 486 contacts. A median of 1.24 contacts were identified from each interview. The odds of eliciting contacts were significantly higher among individuals reporting COVID-19 symptoms than among persons with no symptoms (51% vs 36%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-1.70) or living with 1 or more persons than living alone (89% vs 38%; aOR = 12.11; 95% CI, 10.73-13.68). Among the 8878 interviewed case-patients, 8317 (94%) were interviewed within 1 day of their rapid-positive COVID-19 test results and 91% of contact notifications were completed within 1 day of contact identification. The median interval from test result to interview date and from case investigation interview to contact notification were both 0 days (IQR = 0). CONCLUSIONS The integration of contact tracers into COVID-19 POCT workflow achieved timely case investigation and contact notification. Accelerated contact tracing can be used to curb COVID-19 transmission during local outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Chi N. Udeagu
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York (Mss Udeagu, Pitiranggon, and Blaney and Dr Vora); New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York City, New York (Mss Udeagu, Gbedemah, Pitiranggon, Feldman, Goldenberg, Keeley, and Blaney and Drs Cordoba, Vora, and Long); and New York City Health + Hospitals Corporation, New York City, New York (Mss Gbedemah, Feldman, Goldenberg, and Keeley and Drs Cordoba and Long)
| | - Misato Gbedemah
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York (Mss Udeagu, Pitiranggon, and Blaney and Dr Vora); New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York City, New York (Mss Udeagu, Gbedemah, Pitiranggon, Feldman, Goldenberg, Keeley, and Blaney and Drs Cordoba, Vora, and Long); and New York City Health + Hospitals Corporation, New York City, New York (Mss Gbedemah, Feldman, Goldenberg, and Keeley and Drs Cordoba and Long)
| | - Masha Pitiranggon
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York (Mss Udeagu, Pitiranggon, and Blaney and Dr Vora); New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York City, New York (Mss Udeagu, Gbedemah, Pitiranggon, Feldman, Goldenberg, Keeley, and Blaney and Drs Cordoba, Vora, and Long); and New York City Health + Hospitals Corporation, New York City, New York (Mss Gbedemah, Feldman, Goldenberg, and Keeley and Drs Cordoba and Long)
| | - Samantha Feldman
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York (Mss Udeagu, Pitiranggon, and Blaney and Dr Vora); New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York City, New York (Mss Udeagu, Gbedemah, Pitiranggon, Feldman, Goldenberg, Keeley, and Blaney and Drs Cordoba, Vora, and Long); and New York City Health + Hospitals Corporation, New York City, New York (Mss Gbedemah, Feldman, Goldenberg, and Keeley and Drs Cordoba and Long)
| | - Evette Cordoba
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York (Mss Udeagu, Pitiranggon, and Blaney and Dr Vora); New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York City, New York (Mss Udeagu, Gbedemah, Pitiranggon, Feldman, Goldenberg, Keeley, and Blaney and Drs Cordoba, Vora, and Long); and New York City Health + Hospitals Corporation, New York City, New York (Mss Gbedemah, Feldman, Goldenberg, and Keeley and Drs Cordoba and Long)
| | - Shifra Goldenberg
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York (Mss Udeagu, Pitiranggon, and Blaney and Dr Vora); New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York City, New York (Mss Udeagu, Gbedemah, Pitiranggon, Feldman, Goldenberg, Keeley, and Blaney and Drs Cordoba, Vora, and Long); and New York City Health + Hospitals Corporation, New York City, New York (Mss Gbedemah, Feldman, Goldenberg, and Keeley and Drs Cordoba and Long)
| | - Chris Keeley
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York (Mss Udeagu, Pitiranggon, and Blaney and Dr Vora); New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York City, New York (Mss Udeagu, Gbedemah, Pitiranggon, Feldman, Goldenberg, Keeley, and Blaney and Drs Cordoba, Vora, and Long); and New York City Health + Hospitals Corporation, New York City, New York (Mss Gbedemah, Feldman, Goldenberg, and Keeley and Drs Cordoba and Long)
| | - Kathleen Blaney
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York (Mss Udeagu, Pitiranggon, and Blaney and Dr Vora); New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York City, New York (Mss Udeagu, Gbedemah, Pitiranggon, Feldman, Goldenberg, Keeley, and Blaney and Drs Cordoba, Vora, and Long); and New York City Health + Hospitals Corporation, New York City, New York (Mss Gbedemah, Feldman, Goldenberg, and Keeley and Drs Cordoba and Long)
| | - Neil M. Vora
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York (Mss Udeagu, Pitiranggon, and Blaney and Dr Vora); New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York City, New York (Mss Udeagu, Gbedemah, Pitiranggon, Feldman, Goldenberg, Keeley, and Blaney and Drs Cordoba, Vora, and Long); and New York City Health + Hospitals Corporation, New York City, New York (Mss Gbedemah, Feldman, Goldenberg, and Keeley and Drs Cordoba and Long)
| | - Theodore Long
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York (Mss Udeagu, Pitiranggon, and Blaney and Dr Vora); New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York City, New York (Mss Udeagu, Gbedemah, Pitiranggon, Feldman, Goldenberg, Keeley, and Blaney and Drs Cordoba, Vora, and Long); and New York City Health + Hospitals Corporation, New York City, New York (Mss Gbedemah, Feldman, Goldenberg, and Keeley and Drs Cordoba and Long)
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19
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Bristow J, Hamilton J, Weinshel J, Rovig R, Wallace R, Olney C, Lindquist KJ. Interplay of demographics, geography and COVID-19 pandemic responses in the Puget Sound region: The Vashon, Washington Medical Reserve Corps experience. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0274345. [PMID: 37585489 PMCID: PMC10431654 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rural U.S. communities are at risk from COVID-19 due to advanced age and limited access to acute care. Recognizing this, the Vashon Medical Reserve Corps (VMRC) in King County, Washington, implemented an all-volunteer, community-based COVID-19 response program. This program integrated public engagement, SARS-CoV-2 testing, contact tracing, vaccination, and material community support, and was associated with the lowest cumulative COVID-19 case rate in King County. This study aimed to investigate the contributions of demographics, geography and public health interventions to Vashon's low COVID-19 rates. METHODS This observational cross-sectional study compares cumulative COVID-19 rates and success of public health interventions from February 2020 through November 2021 for Vashon Island with King County (including metropolitan Seattle) and Whidbey Island, located ~50 km north of Vashon. To evaluate the role of demography, we developed multiple linear regression models of COVID-19 rates using metrics of age, race/ethnicity, wealth and educational attainment across 77 King County zip codes. To investigate the role of remote geography we expanded the regression models to include North, Central and South Whidbey, similarly remote island communities with varying demographic features. To evaluate the effectiveness of VMRC's community-based public health measures, we directly compared Vashon's success of vaccination and contact tracing with that of King County and South Whidbey, the Whidbey community most similar to Vashon. RESULTS Vashon's cumulative COVID-19 case rate was 29% that of King County overall (22.2 vs 76.8 cases/K). A multiple linear regression model based on King County demographics found educational attainment to be a major correlate of COVID-19 rates, and Vashon's cumulative case rate was just 38% of predicted (p < .05), so demographics alone do not explain Vashon's low COVID-19 case rate. Inclusion of Whidbey communities in the model identified a major effect of remote geography (-49 cases/K, p < .001), such that observed COVID-19 rates for all remote communities fell within the model's 95% prediction interval. VMRC's vaccination effort was highly effective, reaching a vaccination rate of 1500 doses/K four months before South Whidbey and King County and maintaining a cumulative vaccination rate 200 doses/K higher throughout the latter half of 2021 (p < .001). Including vaccination rates in the model reduced the effect of remote geography to -41 cases/K (p < .001). VMRC case investigation was also highly effective, interviewing 96% of referred cases in an average of 1.7 days compared with 69% in 3.7 days for Washington Department of Health investigating South Whidbey cases and 80% in 3.4 days for Public Health-Seattle & King County (both p<0.001). VMRC's public health interventions were associated with a 30% lower case rate (p<0.001) and 55% lower hospitalization rate (p = 0.056) than South Whidbey. CONCLUSIONS While the overall magnitude of the pre-Omicron COVID-19 pandemic in rural and urban U.S. communities was similar, we show that island communities in the Puget Sound region were substantially protected from COVID-19 by their geography. We further show that a volunteer community-based COVID-19 response program was highly effective in the Vashon community, augmenting the protective effect of geography. We suggest that Medical Reserve Corps should be an important element of future pandemic planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Bristow
- Vashon Medical Reserve Corps, Vashon, Washington, United States of America
| | - Jamie Hamilton
- Island County Public Health Department, Coupeville, Washington, United States of America
| | - John Weinshel
- Vashon Medical Reserve Corps, Vashon, Washington, United States of America
- VashonBePrepared, Vashon, Washington, United States of America
| | - Robert Rovig
- Atlas Genomics, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Rick Wallace
- VashonBePrepared, Vashon, Washington, United States of America
| | - Clayton Olney
- Vashon Medical Reserve Corps, Vashon, Washington, United States of America
- Madigan Army Medical Center, Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington, United States of America
| | | | - Karla J. Lindquist
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
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20
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Oeltmann JE, Vohra D, Matulewicz HH, DeLuca N, Smith JP, Couzens C, Lash RR, Harvey B, Boyette M, Edwards A, Talboy PM, Dubose O, Regan P, Loosier P, Caruso E, Katz DJ, Taylor MM, Moonan PK. Isolation and Quarantine for Coronavirus Disease 2019 in the United States, 2020-2022. Clin Infect Dis 2023; 77:212-219. [PMID: 36947142 PMCID: PMC11094624 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciad163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Public health programs varied in ability to reach people with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and their contacts to encourage separation from others. For both adult case patients with COVID-19 and their contacts, we estimated the impact of contact tracing activities on separation behaviors from January 2020 until March 2022. METHODS We used a probability-based panel survey of a nationally representative sample to gather data for estimates and comparisons. RESULTS An estimated 64 255 351 adults reported a positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 test result; 79.6% isolated for ≥5 days, 60.2% isolated for ≥10 days, and 79.2% self-notified contacts. A total of, 24 057 139 (37.7%) completed a case investigation, and 46.2% of them reported contacts to health officials. More adults who completed a case investigation isolated than those who did not complete a case investigation (≥5 days, 82.6% vs 78.2%, respectively; ≥10 days, 69.8% vs 54.8%; both P < .05). A total of 84 946 636 adults were contacts of a COVID-19 case patient. Of these, 73.1% learned of their exposure directly from a case patient; 49.4% quarantined for ≥5 days, 18.7% quarantined for ≥14 days, and 13.5% completed a contact tracing call. More quarantined among those who completed a contact tracing call than among those who did not complete a tracing call (≥5 days, 61.2% vs 48.5%, respectively; ≥14 days, 25.2% vs 18.0%; both P < .05). CONCLUSIONS Engagement in contact tracing was positively correlated with isolation and quarantine. However, most adults with COVID-19 isolated and self-notified contacts regardless of whether the public health workforce was able to reach them. Identifying and reaching contacts was challenging and limited the ability to promote quarantining, and testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- John E Oeltmann
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Divya Vohra
- Health Division, Mathematica, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - Nickolas DeLuca
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jonathan P Smith
- School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | | | - R Ryan Lash
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Barrington Harvey
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Melissa Boyette
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Alicia Edwards
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Philip M Talboy
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Odessa Dubose
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Paul Regan
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Penny Loosier
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Elise Caruso
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Dolores J Katz
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Melanie M Taylor
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Patrick K Moonan
- US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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21
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O’Gara D, Rosenblatt SF, Hébert-Dufresne L, Purcell R, Kasman M, Hammond RA. TRACE-Omicron: Policy Counterfactuals to Inform Mitigation of COVID-19 Spread in the United States. ADVANCED THEORY AND SIMULATIONS 2023; 6:2300147. [PMID: 38283383 PMCID: PMC10812885 DOI: 10.1002/adts.202300147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
The Omicron wave was the largest wave of COVID-19 pandemic to date, more than doubling any other in terms of cases and hospitalizations in the United States. In this paper, we present a large-scale agent-based model of policy interventions that could have been implemented to mitigate the Omicron wave. Our model takes into account the behaviors of individuals and their interactions with one another within a nationally representative population, as well as the efficacy of various interventions such as social distancing, mask wearing, testing, tracing, and vaccination. We use the model to simulate the impact of different policy scenarios and evaluate their potential effectiveness in controlling the spread of the virus. Our results suggest the Omicron wave could have been substantially curtailed via a combination of interventions comparable in effectiveness to extreme and unpopular singular measures such as widespread closure of schools and workplaces, and highlight the importance of early and decisive action.
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Affiliation(s)
- David O’Gara
- Division of Computational and Data Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis
| | - Samuel F. Rosenblatt
- Vermont Complex Systems Center, University of Vermont
- Department of Computer Science, University of Vermont
| | - Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
- Vermont Complex Systems Center, University of Vermont
- Department of Computer Science, University of Vermont
| | - Rob Purcell
- Center On Social Dynamics and Policy, Brookings Institution
| | - Matt Kasman
- Center On Social Dynamics and Policy, Brookings Institution
| | - Ross A. Hammond
- Center On Social Dynamics and Policy, Brookings Institution
- Division of Computational and Data Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis
- Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis
- Santa Fe Institute
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22
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Bayly H, Stoddard M, Egeren DV, Murray EJ, Raifman J, Chakravarty A, White LF. Looking under the lamp-post: quantifying the performance of contact tracing in the United States during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-2953875. [PMID: 37333276 PMCID: PMC10274953 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2953875/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Contact tracing forms a crucial part of the public-health toolbox in mitigating and understanding emergent pathogens and nascent disease outbreaks. Contact tracing in the United States was conducted during the pre-Omicron phase of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This tracing relied on voluntary reporting and responses, often using rapid antigen tests (with a high false negative rate) due to lack of accessibility to PCR tests. These limitations, combined with SARS-CoV-2's propensity for asymptomatic transmission, raise the question "how reliable was contact tracing for COVID-19 in the United States"? We answered this question using a Markov model to examine the efficiency with which transmission could be detected based on the design and response rates of contact tracing studies in the United States. Our results suggest that contact tracing protocols in the U.S. are unlikely to have identified more than 1.65% (95% uncertainty interval: 1.62%-1.68%) of transmission events with PCR testing and 0.88% (95% uncertainty interval 0.86%-0.89%) with rapid antigen testing. When considering an optimal scenario, based on compliance rates in East Asia with PCR testing, this increases to 62.7% (95% uncertainty interval: 62.6%-62.8%). These findings highlight the limitations in interpretability for studies of SARS-CoV-2 disease spread based on U.S. contact tracing and underscore the vulnerability of the population to future disease outbreaks, for SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens.
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23
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Bannick MS, Gao F, Brown ER, Janes HE. Retrospective, Observational Studies for Estimating Vaccine Effects on the Secondary Attack Rate of SARS-CoV-2. Am J Epidemiol 2023; 192:1016-1028. [PMID: 36883907 PMCID: PMC10505422 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwad046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines are highly efficacious at preventing symptomatic infection, severe disease, and death. Most of the evidence that COVID-19 vaccines also reduce transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is based on retrospective, observational studies. Specifically, an increasing number of studies are evaluating vaccine effectiveness against the secondary attack rate of SARS-CoV-2 using data available in existing health-care databases or contact-tracing databases. Since these types of databases were designed for clinical diagnosis or management of COVID-19, they are limited in their ability to provide accurate information on infection, infection timing, and transmission events. We highlight challenges with using existing databases to identify transmission units and confirm potential SARS-CoV-2 transmission events. We discuss the impact of common diagnostic testing strategies, including event-prompted and infrequent testing, and illustrate their potential biases in estimating vaccine effectiveness against the secondary attack rate of SARS-CoV-2. We articulate the need for prospective observational studies of vaccine effectiveness against the SARS-CoV-2 secondary attack rate, and we provide design and reporting considerations for studies using retrospective databases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlena S Bannick
- Correspondence to Marlena Bannick, Department of Biostatistics, Hans Rosling Center for Population Health, Box 357232, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 (e-mail: )
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DeLuca N, Caruso E, Gupta R, Kemmerer C, Coughlin R, Chan O, Vohra D, Oeltmann JE, Taylor MM, Moonan PK, Thorpe PG, Loosier PS, Haile G. Experiences with COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing: A qualitative analysis. SSM. QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN HEALTH 2023; 3:100244. [PMID: 36896252 PMCID: PMC9981264 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmqr.2023.100244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Case investigation and contact tracing (CI/CT) is a critical part of the public health response to COVID-19. Individuals' experiences with CI/CT for COVID-19 varied based on geographic location, changes in knowledge and guidelines, access to testing and vaccination, as well as demographic characteristics including age, race, ethnicity, income, and political ideology. In this paper, we explore the experiences and behaviors of adults with positive SARS-CoV-2 test results, or who were exposed to a person with COVID-19, to understand their knowledge, motivations, and facilitators and barriers to their actions. We conducted focus groups and one-on-one interviews with 94 cases and 90 contacts from across the United States. We found that participants were concerned about infecting or exposing others, which motivated them to isolate or quarantine, notify contacts, and get tested. Although most cases and contacts were not contacted by CI/CT professionals, those who were reported a positive experience and received helpful information. Many cases and contacts reported seeking information from family, friends, health care providers, as well as television news and Internet sources. Although participants reported similar perspectives and experiences across demographic characteristics, some highlighted inequities in receiving COVID-19 information and resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nickolas DeLuca
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Elise Caruso
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - John E Oeltmann
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Melanie M Taylor
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Patrick K Moonan
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Phoebe G Thorpe
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Penny S Loosier
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Response Team, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Vo AV, Majnoonian A, Ni J, Garfein RS, Wishard Guerra A, Fielding-Miller R. Challenges of COVID-19 Case Investigation and Contact Tracing in School Settings: An Initial Investigation. THE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH 2023; 93:353-359. [PMID: 36938803 PMCID: PMC10484113 DOI: 10.1111/josh.13308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Case investigation and contact tracing (CI/CT) are important public health tools to interrupt COVID-19 transmission. Our study aims to understand how parents and school staff perceive COVID-19 CI/CT. METHODS Using a mixed methods approach, we distributed a community survey and conducted 15 focus group discussions (FGDs) in English and Spanish between December 2020 and March 2021 with 20 parents and 22 staff from schools in San Diego County ZIP Codes with COVID-19 rates in the top quintile as of August 2020. RESULTS One in 4 survey respondents reported that they would be reluctant to participate in CI/CT. FGDs revealed themes of mistrust in government authorities, overburdened institutions, unfamiliarity with CI/CT, and uncertainty about its reliability. School community members emphasized that parents trust schools to be involved in CI/CT efforts, but schools are overwhelmed with this added responsibility. CONCLUSIONS Investing in schools as community hubs is necessary so they can become important partners in prevention and mitigation in public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anh V Vo
- Qualitative Researcher, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA; Qualitative Researcher, Center on Gender Equity and Health, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA; Scholar (Master Candidate), Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Araz Majnoonian
- Scholar (Ph.D. Candidate), Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA; Qualitative Researcher, Center on Gender Equity and Health, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA; Scholar(Ph.D. Candidate), Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health-Global Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
| | - Jessica Ni
- Student Research Assistant, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA; Scholar(Master Candidate), School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Richard S Garfein
- Professor, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA
| | - Alison Wishard Guerra
- Associate Professor, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Rebecca Fielding-Miller
- Assistant Professor, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA; Assistant Professor, Center on Gender Equity and Health, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA; Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Disease and Global Public Health, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA
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Li D, Shelby T, Brault M, Manohar R, Vermund S, Hagaman A, Forastiere L, Caruthers T, Egger E, Wang Y, Manohar N, Manohar P, Davis JL, Zhou X. Implementation of a Hardware-Assisted Bluetooth-Based COVID-19 Tracking Device in a High School: Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Form Res 2023; 7:e39765. [PMID: 36525333 PMCID: PMC10131711 DOI: 10.2196/39765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Contact tracing is a vital public health tool used to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. However, traditional interview-format contact tracing (TCT) is labor-intensive and time-consuming and may be unsustainable for large-scale pandemics such as COVID-19. OBJECTIVE In this study, we aimed to address the limitations of TCT. The Yale School of Engineering developed a Hardware-Assisted Bluetooth-based Infection Tracking (HABIT) device. Following the successful implementation of HABIT in a university setting, this study sought to evaluate the performance and implementation of HABIT in a high school setting using an embedded mixed methods design. METHODS In this pilot implementation study, we first assessed the performance of HABIT using mock case simulations in which we compared contact tracing data collected from mock case interviews (TCT) versus Bluetooth devices (HABIT). For each method, we compared the number of close contacts identified and identification of unique contacts. We then conducted an embedded mixed methods evaluation of the implementation outcomes of HABIT devices using pre- and postimplementation quantitative surveys and qualitative focus group discussions with users and implementers according to the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance framework. RESULTS In total, 17 students and staff completed mock case simulations in which 161 close contact interactions were detected by interview or Bluetooth devices. We detected significant differences in the number of close contacts detected by interview versus Bluetooth devices (P<.001), with most (127/161, 78.9%) contacts being reported by interview only. However, a significant number (26/161, 16.1%; P<.001) of contacts were uniquely identified by Bluetooth devices. The interface, ease of use, coherence, and appropriateness were highly rated by both faculty and students. HABIT provided emotional security to users. However, the prototype design and technical difficulties presented barriers to the uptake and sustained use of HABIT. CONCLUSIONS Implementation of HABIT in a high school was impeded by technical difficulties leading to decreased engagement and adherence. Nonetheless, HABIT identified a significant number of unique contacts not reported by interview, indicating that electronic technologies may augment traditional contact tracing once user preferences are accommodated and technical glitches are overcome. Participants indicated a high degree of acceptance, citing emotional reassurance and a sense of security with the device.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Li
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Tyler Shelby
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Marie Brault
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Rajit Manohar
- Yale School of Engineering and Applied Science, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Sten Vermund
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Ashley Hagaman
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Laura Forastiere
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Tyler Caruthers
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Emilie Egger
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Yizhou Wang
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Nathan Manohar
- IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, NY, United States
| | - Peter Manohar
- Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, NY, United States
| | - J Lucian Davis
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Xin Zhou
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
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Vaughn J, Karayeva E, Lopez-Yanez N, Stein EM, Hershow RC. Implementation and effectiveness of a COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing program at a large, urban midwestern university. Am J Infect Control 2023; 51:268-275. [PMID: 36804098 PMCID: PMC9671696 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2022.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) COVID-19 Contact Tracing and Epidemiology Program was critical to the university's COVID-19 incident response during the 2020-2021 academic year. We are a team of epidemiologists and student contact tracers who perform COVID-19 contact tracing among campus members. Literature is sparse on models for mobilizing non-clinical students as contact tracers; therefore, we aim to disseminate strategies that are adaptable by other institutions. METHODS We described essential aspects of our program including surveillance testing, staffing and training models, interdepartmental partnerships, and workflows. Additionally, we analyzed the epidemiology of COVID-19 at UIC and measures of contact tracing effectiveness. RESULTS The program was responsible for promptly quarantining 120 cases prior to converting and potentially infecting others, thereby preventing at least 132 downstream exposures and 22 COVID-19 infections from occurring. DISCUSSION Features central to program success included routine data translation and dissemination and utilizing students as indigenous campus contact tracers. Major operational challenges included high staff turnover and adjusting to rapidly evolving public health guidance. CONCLUSIONS Institutes of higher education provide fertile ground for effective contact tracing, particularly when comprehensive networks of partners facilitate compliance with institution-specific public health requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jocelyn Vaughn
- University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
| | - Evgenia Karayeva
- University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
| | - Natalia Lopez-Yanez
- University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
| | | | - Ronald C Hershow
- University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
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Simoes EJ, Jackson-Thompson J. The United States public health services failure to control the coronavirus epidemic. Prev Med Rep 2023; 31:102090. [PMID: 36507303 PMCID: PMC9724501 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.102090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The unprecedented COVID-19 epidemic in the United States (US) and worldwide, caused by a new type of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), occurred mostly because of higher-than-expected transmission speed and degree of virulence compared with previous respiratory virus outbreaks, especially earlier Coronaviruses with person-to-person transmission (e.g., MERS, SARS). The epidemic's size and duration, however, are mostly a function of failure of public health systems to prevent/control the epidemic. In the US, this failure was due to historical disinvestment in public health services, key players equivocating on decisions, and political interference in public health actions. In this communication, we present a summary of these failures, discuss root causes, and make recommendations for improvement with focus on public health decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo J. Simoes
- University of Missouri (MU) School of Medicine Department of Health Management and Informatics and MU Institute for Data Science and Informatics, United States
| | - Jeannette Jackson-Thompson
- University of Missouri (MU) School of Medicine Department of Health Management and Informatics and MU Institute for Data Science and Informatics, United States
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Jeon S, Rainisch G, Harris AM, Shinabery J, Iqbal M, Pallavaram A, Hilton S, Karki S, Moonan PK, Oeltmann JE, Meltzer MI. Estimated Cases Averted by COVID-19 Digital Exposure Notification, Pennsylvania, USA, November 8, 2020-January 2, 2021. Emerg Infect Dis 2023; 29:426-430. [PMID: 36639132 PMCID: PMC9881797 DOI: 10.3201/eid2902.220959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
We combined field-based data with mathematical modeling to estimate the effectiveness of smartphone-enabled COVID-19 exposure notification in Pennsylvania, USA. We estimated that digital notifications potentially averted 7-69 cases/1,000 notifications during November 8, 2020-January 2, 2021. Greater use and increased compliance could increase the effectiveness of digital notifications.
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Retrospective Modeling of the Omicron Epidemic in Shanghai, China: Exploring the Timing and Performance of Control Measures. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:tropicalmed8010039. [PMID: 36668946 PMCID: PMC9862922 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8010039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In late February 2022, the Omicron epidemic swept through Shanghai, and the Shanghai government responded to it by adhering to a dynamic zero-COVID strategy. In this study, we conducted a retrospective analysis of the Omicron epidemic in Shanghai to explore the timing and performance of control measures based on the eventual size and duration of the outbreak. METHODS We constructed an age-structured and vaccination-stratified SEPASHRD model by considering populations that had been detected or controlled before symptom onset. In addition, we retrospectively modeled the epidemic in Shanghai from 26 February 2022 to 31 May 2022 across four periods defined by events and interventions, on the basis of officially reported confirmed (58,084) and asymptomatic (591,346) cases. RESULTS According to our model fitting, there were about 785,123 positive infections, of which about 57,585 positive infections were symptomatic infections. Our counterfactual assessment found that precise control by grid management was not so effective and that citywide static management was still needed. Universal and enforced control by citywide static management contained 87.65% and 96.29% of transmission opportunities, respectively. The number of daily new and cumulative infections could be significantly reduced if we implemented static management in advance. Moreover, if static management was implemented in the first 14 days of the epidemic, the number of daily new infections would be less than 10. CONCLUSIONS The above research suggests that dynamic zeroing can only be achieved when strict prevention and control measures are implemented as early as possible. In addition, a lot of preparation is still needed if China wants to change its strategy in the future.
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Zhang Y, Zhang J, Koura YH, Feng C, Su Y, Song W, Kong L. Multiple Concurrent Causal Relationships and Multiple Governance Pathways for Non-Pharmaceutical Intervention Policies in Pandemics: A Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis Based on 102 Countries and Regions. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:931. [PMID: 36673700 PMCID: PMC9858854 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20020931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The global outbreak of COVID-19 has been wreaking havoc on all aspects of human societies. In addition to pharmaceutical interventions, non-pharmaceutical intervention policies have been proven to be crucial in slowing down the spread of the virus and reducing the impact of the outbreak on economic development, daily life, and social stability. However, no studies have focused on which non-pharmaceutical intervention policies are more effective; this is the focus of our study. We used data samples from 102 countries and regions around the world and selected seven categories of related policies, including work and school suspensions, assembly restrictions, movement restrictions, home isolation, international population movement restrictions, income subsidies, and testing and screening as the condition variables. A susceptible-exposed-infected-quarantined-recovered (SEIQR) model considering non-pharmaceutical intervention policies and latency with infectiousness was constructed to calculate the epidemic transmission rate as the outcome variable, and a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method was applied to explore the multiple concurrent causal relationships and multiple governance paths of non-pharmaceutical intervention policies for epidemics from the configuration perspective. We found a total of four non-pharmaceutical intervention policy pathways. Among them, L1 was highly suppressive, L2 was moderately suppressive, and L3 was externally suppressive. The results also showed that individual non-pharmaceutical intervention policy could not effectively suppress the spread of the pandemic. Moreover, three specific non-pharmaceutical intervention policies, including work stoppage and school closure, testing and screening, and economic subsidies, had a universal effect in the policies grouping for effective control of the pandemic transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaming Zhang
- School of Economics and Management, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
- Internet plus and Industrial Development Research Center, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
| | - Jiaqi Zhang
- School of Economics and Management, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
- Internet plus and Industrial Development Research Center, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
| | - Yaya Hamadou Koura
- School of Foreign Languages, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
| | - Changyuan Feng
- Business School, University of Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Yanyuan Su
- School of Economics and Management, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
- Internet plus and Industrial Development Research Center, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
| | - Wenjie Song
- School of Economics and Management, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
- Internet plus and Industrial Development Research Center, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
| | - Linghao Kong
- School of Economics and Management, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
- Internet plus and Industrial Development Research Center, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
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Raymond C, Ouyang D, D'Agostino A, Rudman SL, Ho DE. Automated vs. manual case investigation and contact tracing for pandemic surveillance: Evidence from a stepped wedge cluster randomized trial. EClinicalMedicine 2023; 55:101726. [PMID: 36386031 PMCID: PMC9652032 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Case investigation and contact tracing (CICT) is an important tool for communicable disease control, both to proactively interrupt chains of transmission and to collect information for situational awareness. We run the first randomized trial of COVID-19 CICT to investigate the utility of manual (i.e., call-based) vs. automated (i.e., survey-based) CICT for pandemic surveillance. Methods Between December 15, 2021 and February 5, 2022, a stepped wedge cluster randomized trial was run in which Santa Clara County ZIP Codes progressively transitioned from manual to automated CICT. Eleven individual-level data fields on demographics and disease dynamics were observed for non-response. The data contains 106,522 positive cases across 29 ZIP Codes. Findings Automated CICT reduced overall collected information by 29 percentage points (SE = 0.08, p < 0.01), as well as the response rate for individual fields. However, we find no evidence of differences in information loss by race or ethnicity. Interpretations Automated CICT can serve as a useful alternative to manual CICT, with no substantial evidence of skewing data along racial or ethnic lines, but manual CICT improves completeness of key data for monitoring epidemiologic patterns. Funding This research was supported in part by the Stanford Office of Community Engagement and the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron Raymond
- Regulation, Evaluation, and Governance Lab, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Derek Ouyang
- Regulation, Evaluation, and Governance Lab, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Sarah L. Rudman
- County of Santa Clara Public Health Department, San Jose, CA, USA
| | - Daniel E. Ho
- Regulation, Evaluation, and Governance Lab, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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Chen GJ, Palmer JR, Bartumeus F, Alba-Casals A. Modeling the impact of surveillance activities combined with physical distancing interventions on COVID-19 epidemics at a local level. Infect Dis Model 2022; 7:811-822. [PMID: 36411772 PMCID: PMC9670679 DOI: 10.1016/j.idm.2022.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Physical distancing and contact tracing are two key components in controlling the COVID-19 epidemics. Understanding their interaction at local level is important for policymakers. We propose a flexible modeling framework to assess the effect of combining contact tracing with different physical distancing strategies. Using scenario tree analyses, we compute the probability of COVID-19 detection using passive surveillance, with and without contact tracing, in metropolitan Barcelona. The estimates of detection probability and the frequency of daily social contacts are fitted into an age-structured susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered compartmental model to simulate the epidemics considering different physical distancing scenarios over a period of 26 weeks. With the original Wuhan strain, the probability of detecting an infected individual without implementing physical distancing would have been 0.465, 0.515, 0.617, and 0.665 in designated age groups (0-14, 15-49, 50-64, and >65), respectively. As the physical distancing measures were reinforced and the disease circulation decreased, the interaction between the two interventions resulted in a reduction of the detection probabilities; however, despite this reduction, active contact tracing and isolation remained an effective supplement to physical distancing. If we relied solely on passive surveillance for diagnosing COVID-19, the model required a minimal 50% (95% credible interval, 39-69%) reduction of daily social contacts to keep the infected population under 5%, as compared to the 36% (95% credible interval, 22-56%) reduction with contact tracing systems. The simulation with the B.1.1.7 and B.1.167.2 strains shows similar results. Our simulations showed that a functioning contact tracing program would reduce the need for physical distancing and mitigate the COVID-19 epidemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guan-Jhou Chen
- College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Min-Sheng General Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - John R.B. Palmer
- Department of Political and Social Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Frederic Bartumeus
- Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Blanes, 17300, Spain
- Centre de Recerca Ecològica i Aplicacions Forestals (CREAF), Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, 08010, Spain
| | - Ana Alba-Casals
- Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Spain
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Udeagu CCN, Pitiranggon M, Misra K, Huang J, Terilli T, Ramos Y, Alexander M, Kim C, Lee D, Blaney K, Keeley C, Long T, Vora NM. Outcomes of a Community Engagement and Information Gathering Program to Support Telephone-Based COVID-19 Contact Tracing: Descriptive Analysis. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2022; 8:e40977. [PMID: 36240019 PMCID: PMC9668330 DOI: 10.2196/40977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Contact tracing is an important public health tool for curbing the spread of infectious diseases. Effective and efficient contact tracing involves the rapid identification of individuals with infection and their exposed contacts and ensuring their isolation or quarantine, respectively. Manual contact tracing via telephone call and digital proximity app technology have been key strategies in mitigating the spread of COVID-19. However, many people are not reached for COVID-19 contact tracing due to missing telephone numbers or nonresponse to telephone calls. The New York City COVID-19 Trace program augmented the efforts of telephone-based contact tracers with information gatherers (IGs) to search and obtain telephone numbers or residential addresses, and community engagement specialists (CESs) made home visits to individuals that were not contacted via telephone calls. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of information gathering and home visits to the yields of COVID-19 contact tracing in New York City. METHODS IGs looked for phone numbers or addresses when records were missing phone numbers to locate case-patients or contacts. CESs made home visits to case-patients and contacts with no phone numbers or those who were not reached by telephone-based tracers. Contact tracing management software was used to triage and queue assignments for the telephone-based tracers, IGs, and CESs. We measured the outcomes of contact tracing-related tasks performed by the IGs and CESs from July 2020 to June 2021. RESULTS Of 659,484 cases and 861,566 contact records in the Trace system, 28% (185,485) of cases and 35% (303,550) of contacts were referred to IGs. IGs obtained new phone numbers for 33% (61,804) of case-patients and 11% (31,951) of contacts; 50% (31,019) of the case-patients and 46% (14,604) of the contacts with new phone numbers completed interviews; 25% (167,815) of case-patients and 8% (72,437) of contacts were referred to CESs. CESs attempted 80% (132,781) of case and 69% (49,846) of contact investigations, of which 47% (62,733) and 50% (25,015) respectively, completed interviews. An additional 12,192 contacts were identified following IG investigations and 13,507 following CES interventions. CONCLUSIONS Gathering new or missing locating information and making home visits increased the number of case-patients and contacts interviewed for contact tracing and resulted in additional contacts. When possible, contact tracing programs should add information gathering and home visiting strategies to increase COVID-19 contact tracing coverage and yields as well as promote equity in the delivery of this public health intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Chi N Udeagu
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY, United States
| | - Masha Pitiranggon
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY, United States
| | - Kavita Misra
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY, United States
| | - Jamie Huang
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY, United States
| | - Thomas Terilli
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY, United States
| | - Yasmin Ramos
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY, United States
| | - Martha Alexander
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY, United States
| | - Christine Kim
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY, United States
| | - David Lee
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY, United States
| | - Kathleen Blaney
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY, United States
| | - Chris Keeley
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York City Health + Hospitals, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Theodore Long
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York City Health + Hospitals, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Neil M Vora
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY, United States
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Zheng P, Li C, Zhang H, Huang B, Zhang Y, Feng H, Jiang D, Chen X, Dong X. Challenges of epidemiological investigation work in the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study of the epidemiology workforce in Guangdong Province, China. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e056067. [PMID: 36379656 PMCID: PMC9667747 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study sought to identify the epidemiological investigation challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and offer insights into the underlying issues. DESIGN An exploratory qualitative study used thematic analysis of semistructured and in-depth individual interviews. SETTING This study was conducted in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Guangdong Province. PARTICIPANTS Twenty-four participants consented to participate in an in-depth interview. Transcribed recordings were managed using NVivo software and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS The qualitative analysis revealed five key themes: high-intensity epidemiological investigation task, emergency management requiring improvement in the early stage, respondent uncertainty, impact on work and social life and inadequate early-stage Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism. CONCLUSION This survey focuses on the epidemiology workforce at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic and qualitatively describes their experiences, vocational issues and psychological stressors. We found that the problems of epidemiological investigation posed intense challenges to the epidemiology workforce. These findings highlight the epidemiological investigation challenges associated with this pandemic. We have provided some suggestions that may help improve the efficiency and quality of the epidemiology workforce in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zheng
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Jinan University School of Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Cuizhi Li
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Jinan University School of Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hongyue Zhang
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Jinan University School of Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Bing Huang
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Jinan University School of Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Jinan University School of Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Huiyao Feng
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Jinan University School of Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Diwei Jiang
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Jinan University School of Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiongfei Chen
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Jinan University School of Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Primary Public Health, Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaomei Dong
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Jinan University School of Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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Barnes-Josiah D, Kundeti H, Cramer D. Factors Influencing the Results of COVID-19 Case Outreach-Results From a California Case Investigation/Contact Tracing Program. JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICE 2022; 28:639-649. [PMID: 36070585 PMCID: PMC9555609 DOI: 10.1097/phh.0000000000001622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Considerable research has examined impacts of case investigation and contact tracing (CI/CT) programs on the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, but there are few reports on factors affecting the ability of these programs to obtain interviews and acquire key information. OBJECTIVE To investigate programmatic and case-specific factors associated with CI outcomes using data from the Public Health Institute's Tracing Health CI/CT program. Analyses were designed to detect variability in predictors of whether interviews and key information were obtained rather than quantify specific relationships. DESIGN Logistic regression models examined variability in the predictive value of interview timeliness and respondent characteristics on outreach outcomes and interview results. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Participants were members of a large California health care network with a positive laboratory test for COVID-19 and outreach from January 1 to July 31, 2021. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the result of outreach attempts: completed interview, refused interview, or failure to reach the infected person. Secondary outcomes considered whether respondents provided information on symptom onset, employment, and contact information or a reason for declining to provide information, and whether resource support was requested or accepted. RESULTS Of 9391 eligible records, 65.6% were for completed interviews, 6.0% were refusals, and 28.3% were failed outreach. One-third of respondents (36.7%) provided information on contacts (mean = 0.97 contacts per respondent, 2.6 for those naming at least 1). Privacy concerns were the most common reasons for not providing contact information. Among respondent characteristics and interview timeliness, only race and number of symptoms showed statistically significant effects in all adjusted analyses. CONCLUSIONS Significant variation existed in outreach outcomes by subject characteristics and interview timeliness. CI/CT programs carefully focused to characteristics and needs of specific communities will likely have the greatest impact on the spread of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debora Barnes-Josiah
- Correspondence: Debora Barnes-Josiah, PhD, MSPH, Tracing Health Program, Public Health Institute, 555 12th Street, Oakland, CA 94607 ()
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Blaney K, Foerster S, Baumgartner J, Benckert M, Blake J, Bray J, Chamany S, Devinney K, Fine A, Gindler M, Guerra L, Johnson A, Keeley C, Lee D, Lipsit M, McKenney S, Misra K, Perl S, Peters D, Ray M, Saad E, Thomas G, Trieu L, Udeagu CC, Watkins J, Wong M, Zielinski L, Long T, Vora NM. COVID-19 Case Investigation and Contact Tracing in New York City, June 1, 2020, to October 31, 2021. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2239661. [PMID: 36322090 PMCID: PMC9631107 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.39661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Contact tracing is a core strategy for preventing the spread of many infectious diseases of public health concern. Better understanding of the outcomes of contact tracing for COVID-19 as well as the operational opportunities and challenges in establishing a program for a jurisdiction as large as New York City (NYC) is important for the evaluation of this strategy. OBJECTIVE To describe the establishment, scaling, and maintenance of Trace, NYC's contact tracing program, and share data on outcomes during its first 17 months. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cross-sectional study included people with laboratory test-confirmed and probable COVID-19 and their contacts in NYC between June 1, 2020, and October 31, 2021. Trace launched on June 1, 2020, and had a workforce of 4147 contact tracers, with the majority of the workforce performing their jobs completely remotely. Data were analyzed in March 2022. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Number and proportion of persons with COVID-19 and contacts on whom investigations were attempted and completed; timeliness of interviews relative to symptom onset or exposure for symptomatic cases and contacts, respectively. RESULTS Case investigations were attempted for 941 035 persons. Of those, 840 922 (89.4%) were reached and 711 353 (75.6%) completed an intake interview (women and girls, 358 775 [50.4%]; 60 178 [8.5%] Asian, 110 636 [15.6%] Black, 210 489 [28.3%] Hispanic or Latino, 157 349 [22.1%] White). Interviews were attempted for 1 218 650 contacts. Of those, 904 927 (74.3%) were reached, and 590 333 (48.4%) completed intake (women and girls, 219 261 [37.2%]; 47 403 [8.0%] Asian, 98 916 [16.8%] Black, 177 600 [30.1%] Hispanic or Latino, 116 559 [19.7%] White). Completion rates were consistent over time and resistant to changes related to vaccination as well as isolation and quarantine guidance. Among symptomatic cases, median time from symptom onset to intake completion was 4.7 days; a median 1.4 contacts were identified per case. Median time from contacts' last date of exposure to intake completion was 2.3 days. Among contacts, 30.1% were tested within 14 days of notification. Among cases, 27.8% were known to Trace as contacts. The overall expense for Trace from May 6, 2020, through October 31, 2021, was approximately $600 million. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Despite the complexity of developing a contact tracing program in a diverse city with a population of over 8 million people, in this case study we were able to identify 1.4 contacts per case and offer resources to safely isolate and quarantine to over 1 million cases and contacts in this study period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Blaney
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York
| | - Steffen Foerster
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York
| | | | | | - Janice Blake
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York
| | - Jackie Bray
- New York City Health + Hospitals, New York, New York
- Now with New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Albany, New York
| | - Shadi Chamany
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York
| | - Katelynn Devinney
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York
| | - Annie Fine
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York
- Now with Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Masha Gindler
- New York City Health + Hospitals, New York, New York
| | - Laura Guerra
- New York City Health + Hospitals, New York, New York
| | | | - Chris Keeley
- New York City Health + Hospitals, New York, New York
| | - David Lee
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York
| | - Mia Lipsit
- New York City Health + Hospitals, New York, New York
| | - Sarah McKenney
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York
| | - Kavita Misra
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York
| | - Sarah Perl
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York
| | - Dana Peters
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York
| | - Madhury Ray
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York
| | - Eduardo Saad
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York
| | - Guajira Thomas
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York
| | - Lisa Trieu
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York
| | - Chi-Chi Udeagu
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York
| | - Julian Watkins
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York
| | - Marcia Wong
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York
| | - Lindsay Zielinski
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York
| | - Theodore Long
- New York City Health + Hospitals, New York, New York
| | - Neil M. Vora
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, New York
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Kern D, Tabidze I, Modali L, Stonehouse P, Karamustafa A. Unified Response to COVID-19 Case Investigation and Contact Tracing, Chicago, December 2020-April 2021. Public Health Rep 2022; 137:40S-45S. [PMID: 36314690 PMCID: PMC9623407 DOI: 10.1177/00333549221131372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We evaluated 2 innovative approaches that supported COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing (CI/CT) in Chicago communities: (1) early engagement of people diagnosed with COVID-19 by leveraging the existing Healthcare Alert Network to send automated telephone calls and text messages and (2) establishment of a network of on-site case investigators and contact tracers within partner health care facilities (HCFs) and community-based organizations (CBOs). METHODS The Chicago Department of Public Health used Healthcare Alert Network data to calculate the proportion of people with confirmed COVID-19 who successfully received an automated telephone call or text message during December 27, 2020-April 24, 2021. The department also used CI/CT data to calculate the proportion of cases successfully interviewed and named contacts successfully notified, as well as the time to successful case interview and to successful contact notification. RESULTS Of 67 882 people with COVID-19, 94.3% (n = 64 011) received an automated telephone call and 91.7% (n = 62 239) received a text message. Of the 65 470 COVID-19 cases pulled from CI/CT data, 24 450 (37.3%) interviews were completed, including 6212 (61.3%) of the 10 126 cases diagnosed in HCFs. The median time from testing to successful case interview was 3 days for Chicago Department of Public Health investigators and 4 days for HCF investigators. Overall, 34 083 contacts were named; 13 117 (38.5%) were successfully notified, including 9068 (36.6%) of the 24 761 contacts assigned to CBOs. The median time from contact elicitation to completed notification by CBOs was <24 hours. CONCLUSIONS Partnerships with HCFs and CBOs helped deliver timely CI/CT during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting a potential benefit of engaging non-public health institutions in CI/CT for existing and emerging diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Kern
- Chicago Department of Public Health, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Irina Tabidze
- Chicago Department of Public Health, Chicago, IL, USA
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Shelby T, Arechiga C, Gupta AJ, Hennein R, Schenck C, Weeks B, Bond M, Niccolai L, Davis JL, Grau LE. "I can't do it": A qualitative study exploring case and contact experiences with COVID-19 contact tracing. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1963. [PMID: 36284292 PMCID: PMC9595089 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14265-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low engagement in contact tracing for COVID-19 dramatically reduces its impact, but little is known about how experiences, environments and characteristics of cases and contacts influence engagement. METHODS We recruited a convenience sample of COVID-19 cases and contacts from the New Haven Health Department's contact tracing program for interviews about their contact tracing experiences. We analyzed transcripts thematically, organized themes using the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, Behavior (COM-B) model, and identified candidate interventions using the linked Behavior Change Wheel Framework. RESULTS We interviewed 21 cases and 12 contacts. Many felt physically or psychologically incapable of contact tracing participation due to symptoms or uncertainty about protocols. Environmental factors and social contacts also influenced engagement. Finally, physical symptoms, emotions and low trust in and expectations of public health authorities influenced motivation to participate. CONCLUSION To improve contact tracing uptake, programs should respond to clients' physical and emotional needs; increase clarity of public communications; address structural and social factors that shape behaviors and opportunities; and establish and maintain trust. We identify multiple potential interventions that may help achieve these goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Shelby
- grid.47100.320000000419368710Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- grid.47100.320000000419368710Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Cailin Arechiga
- grid.47100.320000000419368710Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Amanda J. Gupta
- grid.47100.320000000419368710Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Rachel Hennein
- grid.47100.320000000419368710Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- grid.47100.320000000419368710Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Christopher Schenck
- grid.47100.320000000419368710Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Brian Weeks
- New Haven Health Department, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Present Address: Norwalk Health Department, Norwalk, CT United States of America
| | - Maritza Bond
- New Haven Health Department, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Linda Niccolai
- grid.47100.320000000419368710Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - J. Lucian Davis
- grid.47100.320000000419368710Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- grid.47100.320000000419368710Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine Section, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- grid.47100.320000000419368710Center for Methods in Implementation and Prevention Science, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Lauretta E. Grau
- grid.47100.320000000419368710Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
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Bhatia R, Sledge I, Baral S. Missing science: A scoping study of COVID-19 epidemiological data in the United States. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0248793. [PMID: 36223335 PMCID: PMC9555641 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Systematic approaches to epidemiologic data collection are critical for informing pandemic responses, providing information for the targeting and timing of mitigations, for judging the efficacy and efficiency of alternative response strategies, and for conducting real-world impact assessments. Here, we report on a scoping study to assess the completeness of epidemiological data available for COVID-19 pandemic management in the United States, enumerating authoritative US government estimates of parameters of infectious transmission, infection severity, and disease burden and characterizing the extent and scope of US public health affiliated epidemiological investigations published through November 2021. While we found authoritative estimates for most expected transmission and disease severity parameters, some were lacking, and others had significant uncertainties. Moreover, most transmission parameters were not validated domestically or re-assessed over the course of the pandemic. Publicly available disease surveillance measures did grow appreciably in scope and resolution over time; however, their resolution with regards to specific populations and exposure settings remained limited. We identified 283 published epidemiological reports authored by investigators affiliated with U.S. governmental public health entities. Most reported on descriptive studies. Published analytic studies did not appear to fully respond to knowledge gaps or to provide systematic evidence to support, evaluate or tailor community mitigation strategies. The existence of epidemiological data gaps 18 months after the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the need for more timely standardization of data collection practices and for anticipatory research priorities and protocols for emerging infectious disease epidemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajiv Bhatia
- Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | | | - Stefan Baral
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
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Vilas-Boas F, Lopes S, Teixeira M, Rodrigues C, Teixeira M, Frias-Bulhosa J, Teixeira S, Pinto M, Carvalho T, Pinheiro E, Nunes C, Portugal R, Duarte R, Firmino-Machado J. COVID-19 collaborative screening: An action-research project for large scale contact tracing in Northern Portugal. Prev Med Rep 2022; 29:101926. [PMID: 35892121 PMCID: PMC9304078 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In late November 2020, when Europe reached the highest 14-day incidence of COVID-19 cases, the resource-intensive and time-consuming traditional contact tracing performed by Public Health was challenged. In this context, innovative approaches were necessary to guarantee a timely interruption of disease transmission. “COVID-19 Collaborative Screening” Project was developed as a faster solution, not only because the contact tracing process is simpler for the operator, but mainly because it is possible to quickly scale up the number of operators involved. It was designed to interrupt family and social transmission chains, in a partnership with the Local Public Health Services – allowing these services to dedicate to scenarios of more complex risk assessment, using the traditional contact tracing. To perform contact tracing, this method involves Public Servants, Armed Forces and Medical Dentists. The Project also promotes participatory citizenship, by delegating to the citizen the responsibility of registering his/hers contacts with high-risk exposure in an online form, in contrast to the traditional contact tracing method which is more health professional-dependent. Until the end of January 2021, the Project has trained eight teams, enrolling a total of 213 professionals, and was implemented in eight Health Regions (with an estimated population of 1,346,150 inhabitants). The Project was successful at facing the delays in case interview and contact tracing. The strategy implemented by ColabCOVID is assembled as a sustainable, reproducible and scalable platform and is ready to be re-implemented to face the emergence of more contagious variants, as well as an eventual forthcoming health threat.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sofia Lopes
- Northern Regional Health Administration, Porto, Portugal
| | | | | | - Marta Teixeira
- Northern Regional Health Administration, Porto, Portugal
| | - José Frias-Bulhosa
- Northern Regional Health Administration, Porto, Portugal.,Oral Public Health Department - Public Health Institute, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sara Teixeira
- Northern Regional Health Administration, Porto, Portugal
| | - Marta Pinto
- Clinical Research Unit of the Northern Regional Health Administration, Porto, Portugal.,Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Tiago Carvalho
- Northern Regional Health Administration, Porto, Portugal
| | - Eduardo Pinheiro
- Secretary of State - Coordinator for the Execution of State of Emergency Proclamation in the Northern Region of Portugal, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carlos Nunes
- Northern Regional Health Administration, Porto, Portugal.,Head of the North Regional Health Administration, Porto, Portugal
| | - Rui Portugal
- Deputy Director-General of Health, Directorate-General of Health, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Raquel Duarte
- Northern Regional Health Administration, Porto, Portugal.,Clinical Research Unit of the Northern Regional Health Administration, Porto, Portugal.,EPIUnit - Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Public Health, Forensic Sciences and Medical Education Department, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - João Firmino-Machado
- Northern Regional Health Administration, Porto, Portugal.,EPIUnit - Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Public Health, Forensic Sciences and Medical Education Department, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Haddad MB, McLean JE, Feldman SS, Sizemore EE, Taylor MM. Innovative Approaches to COVID-19 Case Investigation and Contact Tracing. Public Health Rep 2022; 137:5S-10S. [PMID: 36113066 PMCID: PMC9483134 DOI: 10.1177/00333549221120454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Maryam B. Haddad
- COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jody E. McLean
- COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sue S. Feldman
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Erin E. Sizemore
- COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Melanie M. Taylor
- COVID-19 Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
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43
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A State Health Department and Health Information Exchange Partnership: an Effective Collaboration for a Data-Driven Response for COVID-19 Contact Tracing in Maryland. Sex Transm Dis 2022:00007435-990000000-00081. [PMID: 36098564 PMCID: PMC9992453 DOI: 10.1097/olq.0000000000001702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accurate, complete, timely data were essential to effective contact tracing for COVID-19. Maryland Department of Health partnered with Maryland's designated health information exchange, Chesapeake Regional Information System for Our Patients (CRISP), to establish data enhancement processes that provided the foundation for Maryland's successful contact tracing program. METHODS Hourly, electronic positive COVID-19 test results were routed through CRISP to the contact tracing data platform. CRISP matched reports against its master patient index to enhance the record with demographic, locating, fatality, vaccination, and hospitalization data. Records were de-duplicated and flagged if associated with a congregate setting, select state universities, or recent international travel. Chi-square tests were used to assess if CRISP-added phone numbers resulted in better contact tracing outcomes. RESULTS During June 15, 2020-September 1, 2021, CRISP pushed 531,094 records to the state's contact tracing data platform within an hour of receipt; of those eligible for investigation, 99% had a phone number. CRISP matched 521,731 (98%) records to their master patient index, allowing for deduplication and enrichment. CRISP flagged 15,615 cases in congregate settings and 3,304 cases as university students; these records were immediately routed for outbreak investigation. Records with an added phone number were significantly more likely to be successfully reached compared to cases with no added phone number (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS CRISP enhanced COVID-19 electronic laboratory reports with a near-instant impact on public health actions. The partnership and data processing workflows can serve as a blueprint for data modernization in public health agencies across the United States.
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Feuerstein-Simon R, Strelau KM, Naseer N, Claycomb K, Kilaru A, Lawman H, Watson-Lewis L, Klusaritz H, Van Pelt AE, Penrod N, Srivastava T, Nelson HC, James R, Hall M, Weigelt E, Summers C, Paterson E, Aysola J, Thomas R, Lowenstein D, Advani P, Meehan P, Merchant RM, Volpp KG, Cannuscio CC. Design, Implementation, and Outcomes of a Volunteer-Staffed Case Investigation and Contact Tracing Initiative at an Urban Academic Medical Center. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2232110. [PMID: 36149656 PMCID: PMC9508658 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.32110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed nearly 6 million lives globally as of February 2022. While pandemic control efforts, including contact tracing, have traditionally been the purview of state and local health departments, the COVID-19 pandemic outpaced health department capacity, necessitating actions by private health systems to investigate and control outbreaks, mitigate transmission, and support patients and communities. OBJECTIVE To investigate the process of designing and implementing a volunteer-staffed contact tracing program at a large academic health system from April 2020 to May 2021, including program structure, lessons learned through implementation, results of case investigation and contact tracing efforts, and reflections on how constrained resources may be best allocated in the current pandemic or future public health emergencies. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This case series study was conducted among patients at the University of Pennsylvania Health System and in partnership with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. Patients who tested positive for COVID-19 were contacted to counsel them regarding safe isolation practices, identify and support quarantine of their close contacts, and provide resources, such as food and medicine, needed during isolation or quarantine. RESULTS Of 5470 individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 and received calls from a volunteer, 2982 individuals (54.5%; median [range] age, 42 [18-97] years; 1628 [59.4%] women among 2741 cases with sex data) were interviewed; among 2683 cases with race data, there were 110 Asian individuals (3.9%), 1476 Black individuals (52.7%), and 817 White individuals (29.2%), and among 2667 cases with ethnicity data, there were 366 Hispanic individuals (13.1%) and 2301 individuals who were not Hispanic (82.6%). Most individuals lived in a household with 2 to 5 people (2125 of 2904 individuals with household data [71.6%]). Of 3222 unique contacts, 1780 close contacts (55.2%; median [range] age, 40 [18-97] years; 866 [55.3%] women among 1565 contacts with sex data) were interviewed; among 1523 contacts with race data, there were 69 Asian individuals (4.2%), 705 Black individuals (43.2%), and 573 White individuals (35.1%), and among 1514 contacts with ethnicity data, there were 202 Hispanic individuals (12.8%) and 1312 individuals (83.4%) who were not Hispanic. Most contacts lived in a household with 2 to 5 people (1123 of 1418 individuals with household data [79.2%]). Of 3324 cases and contacts who completed a questionnaire on unmet social needs, 907 (27.3%) experienced material hardships that would make it difficult for them to isolate or quarantine safely. Such hardship was significantly less common among White compared with Black participants (odds ratio, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.16-0.25). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE These findings demonstrate the feasibility and challenges of implementing a case investigation and contact tracing program at an academic health system. In addition to successfully engaging most assigned COVID-19 cases and close contacts, contact tracers shared health information and material resources to support isolation and quarantine, thus filling local public health system gaps and supporting local pandemic control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Feuerstein-Simon
- Department of Family and Community Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Center for Public Health Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Katherine M. Strelau
- Center for Public Health Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Biomedical Graduate Studies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Nawar Naseer
- Center for Public Health Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Biomedical Graduate Studies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Kierstyn Claycomb
- Center for Public Health Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Austin Kilaru
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Center for Emergency Care Policy and Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Hannah Lawman
- Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Now with Novo Nordisk, Plainsboro, New Jersey
| | | | - Heather Klusaritz
- Department of Family and Community Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Center for Public Health Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Amelia E. Van Pelt
- Center for Public Health Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Center for Global Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Nadia Penrod
- Penn Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Tuhina Srivastava
- Center for Public Health Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Biomedical Graduate Studies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Hillary C.M. Nelson
- Center for Public Health Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Richard James
- School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Moriah Hall
- Center for Public Health Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Elaine Weigelt
- Center for Public Health Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Courtney Summers
- Department of Family and Community Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Center for Public Health Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Emily Paterson
- Department of Family and Community Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Center for Public Health Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Jaya Aysola
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Center For Health Equity Advancement, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Rosemary Thomas
- Center For Health Equity Advancement, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Deborah Lowenstein
- Center For Health Equity Advancement, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Preeti Advani
- Center For Health Equity Advancement, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Patricia Meehan
- Center For Health Equity Advancement, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Raina M. Merchant
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Center for Emergency Care Policy and Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Kevin G. Volpp
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Health Care Management, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Carolyn C. Cannuscio
- Department of Family and Community Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Center for Public Health Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
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Meehan AA, Thomas I, Horter L, Schoonveld M, Carmichael AE, Kashani M, Valencia D, Mosites E. Incidence of COVID-19 Among Persons Experiencing Homelessness in the US From January 2020 to November 2021. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2227248. [PMID: 35980638 PMCID: PMC9389352 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.27248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE A lack of timely and high-quality data is an ongoing challenge for public health responses to COVID-19 among people experiencing homelessness (PEH). Little is known about the total number of cases of COVID-19 among PEH. OBJECTIVE To estimate the number of COVID-19 cases among PEH and compare the incidence rate among PEH with that in the general population. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This cross-sectional study used data from a survey distributed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to all US state, district, and territorial health departments that requested aggregated COVID-19 data among PEH from January 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021. Jurisdictions were encouraged to share the survey with local health departments. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary study outcome was the number of cases of COVID-19 identified among PEH. COVID-19 cases and incidence rates among PEH were compared with those in the general population in the same geographic areas. RESULTS Participants included a population-based sample of all 64 US jurisdictional health departments. Overall, 25 states, districts, and territories completed the survey, among which 18 states (72.0%) and 27 localities reported COVID-19 data among PEH. A total of 26 349 cases of COVID-19 among PEH were reported at the state level and 20 487 at the local level. The annual incidence rate of COVID-19 among PEH at the state level was 567.9 per 10 000 person-years (95% CI, 560.5-575.4 per 10 000 person-years) compared with 715.0 per 10 000 person-years (95% CI, 714.5-715.5 per 10 000 person-years) in the general population. At the local level, the incidence rate of COVID-19 among PEH was 799.2 per 10 000 person-years (95% CI, 765.5-834.0 per 10 000 person-years) vs 812.5 per 10 000 person-years (95% CI, 810.7-814.3 per 10 000 person-years) in the general population. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE These results provide an estimate of COVID-19 incidence rates among PEH in multiple US jurisdictions; however, a national estimate and the extent of under- or overestimation remain unknown. The findings suggest that opportunities exist for incorporating housing and homelessness status in infectious disease reporting to inform public health decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley A. Meehan
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Emergency Response, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Isabel Thomas
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Emergency Response, Atlanta, Georgia
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Fellowship, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
| | - Libby Horter
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Emergency Response, Atlanta, Georgia
- Goldbelt C6, LLC, Chesapeake, Virginia
| | - Megan Schoonveld
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Emergency Response, Atlanta, Georgia
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Fellowship, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
| | - Andrea E. Carmichael
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Emergency Response, Atlanta, Georgia
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Fellowship, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
| | - Mitra Kashani
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Emergency Response, Atlanta, Georgia
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Fellowship, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
| | - Diana Valencia
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Emergency Response, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Emily Mosites
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 Emergency Response, Atlanta, Georgia
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Matsumura Y, Nagao M, Yamamoto M, Tsuchido Y, Noguchi T, Shinohara K, Yukawa S, Inoue H, Ikeda T. Transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.214 and Alpha Variants during 4 COVID-19 Waves, Kyoto, Japan, January 2020-June 2021. Emerg Infect Dis 2022; 28. [PMID: 35710464 PMCID: PMC9328921 DOI: 10.3201/eid2808.220420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Household transmission is a primary source of SARS-CoV-2 spread. We used COVID-19 epidemiologic investigation data and viral genome analysis data collected in the city of Kyoto, Japan, during January 2020–June 2021 to evaluate the effects of different settings and viral strains on SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Epidemiologic investigations of 5,061 COVID-19 cases found that the most common category for close contact was within households (35.3%); this category also had the highest reverse transcription PCR positivity. The prevalent viral lineage shifted from B.1.1.214 in the third wave to the Alpha variant in the fourth wave. The proportion of secondary cases associated with households also increased from the third to fourth waves (27% vs. 29%). Among 564 contacts from 206 households, Alpha variant was significantly associated with household transmission (odds ratio 1.52, 95% CI 1.06–2.18) compared with B.1.1.214. Public health interventions targeting household contacts and specific variants could help control SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
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Udeagu CCN, Huang J, Misra K, Terilli T, Ramos Y, Alexander M, Kim C, Madad S, Williams R, Bethala S, Pitiranggon M, Blaney K, Keeley C, Bray J, Long T, Vora NM. Community-Based Workforce for COVID-19 Contact Tracing and Prevention Activities in New York City, July-December 2020. Public Health Rep 2022; 137:46S-50S. [PMID: 35861302 PMCID: PMC9679199 DOI: 10.1177/00333549221110833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES High rates of hospitalization and death disproportionately affected Black, Latino, and Asian residents of New York City at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. To suppress COVID-19 transmission, New York City implemented a workforce of community engagement specialists (CESs) to conduct home-based contact tracing when telephone numbers were lacking or telephone-based efforts were unsuccessful and to disseminate COVID-19 information and sanitary supplies. MATERIALS AND METHODS We describe the recruitment, training, and deployment of a multilingual CES workforce with diverse sociodemographic backgrounds during July-December 2020 in New York City. We developed standard operating procedures for infection control and safety measures, procured supplies and means of transportation, and developed protocols and algorithms to efficiently distribute workload. RESULTS From July through December 2020, 519 CESs were trained to conduct in-person contact tracing and activities in community settings, including homes, schools, and businesses, where they disseminated educational materials, face masks, hand sanitizer, and home-based specimen collection kits. During the study period, 94 704 records of people with COVID-19 and 61 246 contacts not reached by telephone-based contact tracers were referred to CESs. CESs attempted home visits or telephone calls with 84 230 people with COVID-19 and 49 303 contacts, reaching approximately 55 592 (66%) and 35 005 (71%), respectively. Other CES activities included monitoring recently arrived travelers under quarantine, eliciting contacts at point-of-care testing sites, and advising schools on school-based COVID-19 mitigation strategies. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS This diverse CES workforce allowed for safe, in-person implementation of contact tracing and other prevention services for individuals and communities impacted by COVID-19. This approach prioritized equitable delivery of community-based support services and resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Chi N. Udeagu
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY, USA
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jamie Huang
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY, USA
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kavita Misra
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY, USA
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York, NY, USA
| | - Thomas Terilli
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY, USA
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yasmin Ramos
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY, USA
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York, NY, USA
| | - Martha Alexander
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY, USA
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christine Kim
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY, USA
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York, NY, USA
| | - Syra Madad
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York, NY, USA
- New York City Health + Hospitals Corporation, New York, NY, USA
| | - Reba Williams
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York, NY, USA
- New York City Health + Hospitals Corporation, New York, NY, USA
| | - Samira Bethala
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York, NY, USA
- New York City Health + Hospitals Corporation, New York, NY, USA
| | - Masha Pitiranggon
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY, USA
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kathleen Blaney
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY, USA
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chris Keeley
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York, NY, USA
- New York City Health + Hospitals Corporation, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jackie Bray
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York, NY, USA
- Office of the Mayor, City of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Theodore Long
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York, NY, USA
- New York City Health + Hospitals Corporation, New York, NY, USA
| | - Neil M. Vora
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY, USA
- New York City Test & Trace Corps, New York, NY, USA
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Hood JE, Kubiak RW, Avoundjian T, Kern E, Fagalde M, Collins HN, Meacham E, Baldwin M, Lechtenberg RJ, Bennett A, Thibault CS, Stewart S, Duchin JS, Golden MR. A Multifaceted Evaluation of a COVID-19 Contact Tracing Program in King County, Washington. JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICE 2022; 28:334-343. [PMID: 35616571 PMCID: PMC9119327 DOI: 10.1097/phh.0000000000001541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Despite the massive scale of COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing (CI/CT) programs operating worldwide, the evidence supporting the intervention's public health impact is limited. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the Public Health-Seattle & King County (PHSKC) CI/CT program, including its reach, timeliness, effect on isolation and quarantine (I&Q) adherence, and potential to mitigate pandemic-related hardships. DESIGN This program evaluation used descriptive statistics to analyze surveillance records, case and contact interviews, referral records, and survey data provided by a sample of cases who had recently ended isolation. SETTING The PHSKC is one of the largest governmental local health departments in the United States. It serves more than 2.2 million people who reside in Seattle and 38 other municipalities. PARTICIPANTS King County residents who were diagnosed with COVID-19 between July 2020 and June 2021. INTERVENTION The PHSKC integrated COVID-19 CI/CT with prevention education and service provision. RESULTS The PHSKC CI/CT team interviewed 42 900 cases (82% of cases eligible for CI/CT), a mean of 6.1 days after symptom onset and 3.4 days after SARS-CoV-2 testing. Cases disclosed the names and addresses of 10 817 unique worksites (mean = 0.8/interview) and 11 432 other recently visited locations (mean = 0.5/interview) and provided contact information for 62 987 household members (mean = 2.7/interview) and 14 398 nonhousehold contacts (mean = 0.3/interview). The CI/CT team helped arrange COVID-19 testing for 5650 contacts, facilitated grocery delivery for 7253 households, and referred 9127 households for financial assistance. End of I&Q Survey participants (n = 304, 54% of sampled) reported self-notifying an average of 4 nonhousehold contacts and 69% agreed that the information and referrals provided by the CI/CT team helped them stay in isolation. CONCLUSIONS In the 12-month evaluation period, CI/CT reached 42 611 households and identified thousands of exposure venues. The timing of CI/CT relative to infectiousness and difficulty eliciting nonhousehold contacts may have attenuated the intervention's effect. Through promotion of I&Q guidance and services, CI/CT can help mitigate pandemic-related hardships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia E. Hood
- Public Health—Seattle & King County, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Kubiak, Avoundjian, Duchin, and Golden, Messrs Kern and Lechtenberg, and Mss Fagalde, Collins, Meacham, Baldwin, Bennett, Thibault, and Stewart); University of Washington, School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Duchin, and Golden); University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington (Drs Duchin and Golden); Seattle University, College of Nursing, Seattle, Washington (Dr Hood); and Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Applied Epidemiology Fellowship, Atlanta, Georgia (Ms Collins)
| | - Rachel W. Kubiak
- Public Health—Seattle & King County, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Kubiak, Avoundjian, Duchin, and Golden, Messrs Kern and Lechtenberg, and Mss Fagalde, Collins, Meacham, Baldwin, Bennett, Thibault, and Stewart); University of Washington, School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Duchin, and Golden); University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington (Drs Duchin and Golden); Seattle University, College of Nursing, Seattle, Washington (Dr Hood); and Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Applied Epidemiology Fellowship, Atlanta, Georgia (Ms Collins)
| | - Tigran Avoundjian
- Public Health—Seattle & King County, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Kubiak, Avoundjian, Duchin, and Golden, Messrs Kern and Lechtenberg, and Mss Fagalde, Collins, Meacham, Baldwin, Bennett, Thibault, and Stewart); University of Washington, School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Duchin, and Golden); University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington (Drs Duchin and Golden); Seattle University, College of Nursing, Seattle, Washington (Dr Hood); and Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Applied Epidemiology Fellowship, Atlanta, Georgia (Ms Collins)
| | - Eli Kern
- Public Health—Seattle & King County, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Kubiak, Avoundjian, Duchin, and Golden, Messrs Kern and Lechtenberg, and Mss Fagalde, Collins, Meacham, Baldwin, Bennett, Thibault, and Stewart); University of Washington, School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Duchin, and Golden); University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington (Drs Duchin and Golden); Seattle University, College of Nursing, Seattle, Washington (Dr Hood); and Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Applied Epidemiology Fellowship, Atlanta, Georgia (Ms Collins)
| | - Meaghan Fagalde
- Public Health—Seattle & King County, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Kubiak, Avoundjian, Duchin, and Golden, Messrs Kern and Lechtenberg, and Mss Fagalde, Collins, Meacham, Baldwin, Bennett, Thibault, and Stewart); University of Washington, School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Duchin, and Golden); University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington (Drs Duchin and Golden); Seattle University, College of Nursing, Seattle, Washington (Dr Hood); and Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Applied Epidemiology Fellowship, Atlanta, Georgia (Ms Collins)
| | - Hannah N. Collins
- Public Health—Seattle & King County, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Kubiak, Avoundjian, Duchin, and Golden, Messrs Kern and Lechtenberg, and Mss Fagalde, Collins, Meacham, Baldwin, Bennett, Thibault, and Stewart); University of Washington, School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Duchin, and Golden); University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington (Drs Duchin and Golden); Seattle University, College of Nursing, Seattle, Washington (Dr Hood); and Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Applied Epidemiology Fellowship, Atlanta, Georgia (Ms Collins)
| | - Elizabeth Meacham
- Public Health—Seattle & King County, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Kubiak, Avoundjian, Duchin, and Golden, Messrs Kern and Lechtenberg, and Mss Fagalde, Collins, Meacham, Baldwin, Bennett, Thibault, and Stewart); University of Washington, School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Duchin, and Golden); University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington (Drs Duchin and Golden); Seattle University, College of Nursing, Seattle, Washington (Dr Hood); and Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Applied Epidemiology Fellowship, Atlanta, Georgia (Ms Collins)
| | - Megan Baldwin
- Public Health—Seattle & King County, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Kubiak, Avoundjian, Duchin, and Golden, Messrs Kern and Lechtenberg, and Mss Fagalde, Collins, Meacham, Baldwin, Bennett, Thibault, and Stewart); University of Washington, School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Duchin, and Golden); University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington (Drs Duchin and Golden); Seattle University, College of Nursing, Seattle, Washington (Dr Hood); and Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Applied Epidemiology Fellowship, Atlanta, Georgia (Ms Collins)
| | - Richard J. Lechtenberg
- Public Health—Seattle & King County, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Kubiak, Avoundjian, Duchin, and Golden, Messrs Kern and Lechtenberg, and Mss Fagalde, Collins, Meacham, Baldwin, Bennett, Thibault, and Stewart); University of Washington, School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Duchin, and Golden); University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington (Drs Duchin and Golden); Seattle University, College of Nursing, Seattle, Washington (Dr Hood); and Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Applied Epidemiology Fellowship, Atlanta, Georgia (Ms Collins)
| | - Amy Bennett
- Public Health—Seattle & King County, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Kubiak, Avoundjian, Duchin, and Golden, Messrs Kern and Lechtenberg, and Mss Fagalde, Collins, Meacham, Baldwin, Bennett, Thibault, and Stewart); University of Washington, School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Duchin, and Golden); University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington (Drs Duchin and Golden); Seattle University, College of Nursing, Seattle, Washington (Dr Hood); and Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Applied Epidemiology Fellowship, Atlanta, Georgia (Ms Collins)
| | - Christina S. Thibault
- Public Health—Seattle & King County, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Kubiak, Avoundjian, Duchin, and Golden, Messrs Kern and Lechtenberg, and Mss Fagalde, Collins, Meacham, Baldwin, Bennett, Thibault, and Stewart); University of Washington, School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Duchin, and Golden); University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington (Drs Duchin and Golden); Seattle University, College of Nursing, Seattle, Washington (Dr Hood); and Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Applied Epidemiology Fellowship, Atlanta, Georgia (Ms Collins)
| | - Sarah Stewart
- Public Health—Seattle & King County, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Kubiak, Avoundjian, Duchin, and Golden, Messrs Kern and Lechtenberg, and Mss Fagalde, Collins, Meacham, Baldwin, Bennett, Thibault, and Stewart); University of Washington, School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Duchin, and Golden); University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington (Drs Duchin and Golden); Seattle University, College of Nursing, Seattle, Washington (Dr Hood); and Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Applied Epidemiology Fellowship, Atlanta, Georgia (Ms Collins)
| | - Jeffrey S. Duchin
- Public Health—Seattle & King County, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Kubiak, Avoundjian, Duchin, and Golden, Messrs Kern and Lechtenberg, and Mss Fagalde, Collins, Meacham, Baldwin, Bennett, Thibault, and Stewart); University of Washington, School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Duchin, and Golden); University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington (Drs Duchin and Golden); Seattle University, College of Nursing, Seattle, Washington (Dr Hood); and Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Applied Epidemiology Fellowship, Atlanta, Georgia (Ms Collins)
| | - Matthew R. Golden
- Public Health—Seattle & King County, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Kubiak, Avoundjian, Duchin, and Golden, Messrs Kern and Lechtenberg, and Mss Fagalde, Collins, Meacham, Baldwin, Bennett, Thibault, and Stewart); University of Washington, School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington (Drs Hood, Duchin, and Golden); University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington (Drs Duchin and Golden); Seattle University, College of Nursing, Seattle, Washington (Dr Hood); and Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Applied Epidemiology Fellowship, Atlanta, Georgia (Ms Collins)
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49
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Harper-Hardy P, Ruebush E, Allen M, Carlin M, Plescia M, Blumenstock JS. COVID-19 Case Investigation and Contact Tracing Programs and Practice: Snapshots From the Field. JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICE 2022; 28:353-357. [PMID: 35045011 PMCID: PMC9112966 DOI: 10.1097/phh.0000000000001488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Between Fall 2020 and Spring 2021, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials conducted 2 rapid queries to collect information from the field regarding the status of COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing (CI/CT) programs and practice. These short surveys were distributed to senior deputies in state and territorial health agencies, yielding a response rate of 45.8% (November 2020) and 40.7% (April 2021). Findings indicated that CI/CT staff roles and assigned functions varied across jurisdictions, as did staffing levels/capacity, approaches for linking individuals to social supports, and program changes that were planned or underway. Agency-reported staffing levels/capacity and programmatic challenges changed over time, highlighting the dynamic nature of CI/CT program practice and implementation. While findings from the surveys cannot be generalized to the national level, they provide critical insights from the field on CI/CT program implementation, challenges, and changes in response to the evolving COVID-19 epidemic in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paris Harper-Hardy
- COVID-19 Response Hub, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), Arlington, Virginia
| | - Elizabeth Ruebush
- COVID-19 Response Hub, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), Arlington, Virginia
| | - Meredith Allen
- COVID-19 Response Hub, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), Arlington, Virginia
| | - Maggie Carlin
- COVID-19 Response Hub, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), Arlington, Virginia
| | - Marcus Plescia
- COVID-19 Response Hub, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), Arlington, Virginia
| | - James S. Blumenstock
- COVID-19 Response Hub, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), Arlington, Virginia
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50
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Borah BF, Pringle J, Flaherty M, Oeltmann JE, Moonan PK, Kelso P. High Community Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Associated With Decreased Contact Tracing Effectiveness for Identifying Persons at Elevated Risk of Infection-Vermont. Clin Infect Dis 2022; 75:S334-S337. [PMID: 35748711 PMCID: PMC9278248 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Vermont contact tracing consistently identified people at risk for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the prevalence ratio (PR) of COVID-19 among contacts compared with noncontacts when viral transmission was high (PR, 13.5 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 13.2-13.9]) was significantly less than when transmission was low (PR, 49.3 [95% CI, 43.2-56.3]).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julia Pringle
- Vermont Department of Health,Career Epidemiology Field Officer, Center for Preparedness and Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | | | - John E Oeltmann
- CDC, COVID-19 Response Team, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
| | - Patrick K Moonan
- CDC, COVID-19 Response Team, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
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