Contact tracing identifies and quarantines people exposed to confirmed cases, breaking transmission chains.
Process
- Case confirmed → contacts identified
- Contacts notified and quarantined
- Prevents onward transmission
Key Factors
- Speed: Faster tracing = more effective
- Coverage: % of contacts successfully traced
- Compliance: Quarantine adherence
- Pre-symptomatic: Transmission before detection
Digital vs Manual
Apps can speed notification but face adoption/privacy challenges. Manual tracing is slower but can probe deeper.