COVID-19 Case Investigation & Contact Tracing

Case Investigation and Contact Tracing are public health strategies used to contain the spread of an infectious disease within a community. For over a century, public health professionals have used these strategies to fight infectious diseases like smallpox, sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, and Ebola.  

Tracing Health contact tracers go through a rigorous introductory training with over 100 hours of education and practical skill-building. Each employee is trained in interviewing techniques, HIPAA compliance, multiple databases, and customer service. All Tracing Health team members are certified in Mental Health First Aid. 

The success of case investigation and contact tracing depends on the interviewer’s ability to build trust and rapport with the individual being interviewed. Tracing Health’s multilingual team members communicate with most cases and contacts in their preferred language and often share their cultural background. This shared experience reduces the need for interpreter services and allows the Tracing Health team to build trust and deliver critical information that saves lives. 

What is Case Investigation? In a case investigation, a public health worker interviews someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 (the “case”) and helps them recall and identify each of the people with whom they have had contact during the period that they may have been infectious. Case investigators also educate individuals who have tested positive on the importance of isolation, and the ways they can help keep their loved ones and communities safe.  

What is Contact Tracing?  The definition of contact tracing is the process of identifying individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19, alerting them of this exposure, and providing important health education. In certain circumstances, contact tracers advise individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19 to quarantine for a period of time in order to avoid exposing others to the virus.