Community Trace: Rapid Establishment of a Volunteer Contact Tracing Program for COVID-19s

Linda Niccolai, PhD, ScM; Tyler Shelby, BS; Brian Weeks, MSPH; Christopher Schenck, BS; Justin Goodwin, MS; Rachel Hennein, BS; Meghan Rossini, MPH; Jennifer Vazquez, DNP, RN; Dorothyann van Rhijn, MD; James Meek, MPH; Maritza Bond, MPH

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Am J Public Health. 2020;111(1):54-57.

Abstract and Introduction

Abstract

Contact tracing was one of the core public health strategies implemented during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this essay, we describe the rapid establishment of a volunteer contact tracing program in New Haven, Connecticut. We describe successes of the program and challenges that were faced. Going forward, contact tracing efforts can best be supported by increased funding to state and local health departments for a stable workforce and use of evidence-based technological innovations.

Introduction

Contact tracing, a well-known and evidence-based intervention used for infectious disease control, was one of the only feasible public health strategies during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. This activity is typically conducted by state and local health departments, but the scale of COVID-19 exceeded their capacity.

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EARLY SUCCESSES, CHALLENGES, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VOLUNTEER CONTACT TRACING PROGRAM: NEW HAVEN, CT, MARCH 14–MAY 25, 2020
SUCCESSES Contact notification outcomes • 119 cases fully interviewed for Yale Health • 998 cases fully interviewed for city of New Haven • 1024 contacts successfully notified Community outreach • Appreciation expressed by many cases and contacts • Information about additional resources provided to many cases and contacts (e.g., hotline referrals for social services, housing or nutrition assistance, mental health) Partnerships • Increased collaboration between state and local health department and academic institutions • Synergies of health department authority and academic resources, flexibility, and expertise Volunteerism • Availability of health science students with relevant background • Provided applied public health experience and training CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS Testing and 14-d monitoring of contacts • Inadequate testing infrastructure Recommendation: Increased access to testing for contacts • Lack of human resources Recommendation: Enhanced contact monitoring via automated messaging and app-based communication Data management systems • Delays in the transfer of data between organizations Recommendation: Shared data systems or more fluid data transfer between health departments and contact tracers • Missing or incorrect data reported with test results Recommendation: Increased collection of accurate contact information at the time of testing Community awareness and trust • Lack of awareness of program Recommendation: Public awareness campaigns via news outlets or social media • Refusals or reluctance to participate Recommendation: Engage community leaders as advocates Workforce sustainability • Volunteer availability shifts over time Recommendation: Offer incentives such as cost-free credit to student volunteers

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Community Trace: Rapid Establishment of a Volunteer Contact Tracing Program for COVID-19s

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