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Public Health Workers Stand Behind Contact Tracing

Chris Rudisill

September 18, 2020 |

QNotes Carolinas |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, North Carolina

The Carolina Community Tracing Collaborative (CCTC) is the first statewide coordinated care network that contact traces new COVID-19 cases and electronically connects people to community resources. Investigators interview newly diagnosed patients, provide information about appropriately isolating, and identify people who were potentially exposed, all of whom are also contacted and connected to resources. Information is entered into a secure online system at each stage and individuals are followed up with. It is not clear that CCTC has successfully tracked the origins of many widespread COVID-19 infections.

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When contact tracing works, families, friends and co-workers avoid infection

Nate Morabito David Boraks

September 11, 2020 |

WCNC-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Charlotte, North Carolina

Health officials in North Carolina have shown that contact tracing can successfully identify those who have been exposed to COVID-19. The efforts of the contact tracers in one county resulted in 35 people being quarantined after an exposure to the virus during a child's birthday party, however that was only possible because of those individuals "were willing to be open and honest and forthcoming."

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What sewage can tell us about the spread of COVID-19

Jane C. Hu

September 02, 2020 |

High Country News |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Bozeman, Montana

Scientists in Bozeman, Montana are tracking community spread of COVID-19 by studying samples from the city’s wastewater. Although this form of tracking is more tedious and not necessarily as effective as testing individuals via a swab, the wastewater tracking program is able detect the virus and help health officials identify the area where it likely originated from.

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COVID goes to college

Johnathan Hettinger

September 01, 2020 |

Montana Free Press |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Missoula, Montana

Universities across the U.S. are looking to different testing techniques to decrease the likelihood of Covid-19 spreads on campuses. At the University of Arizona dorm wastewater is tested regularly to determine if students in a specific building need to be tested and isolated. The University of Illinois uses a saliva test to screen students and staff for the virus and either approves or denies access to school buildings via a smartphone app based on each person's test results, or denies access altogether if no test was taken.

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How the University of Arizona used No. 2 to solve its No. 1 problem

Denise Chow

August 29, 2020 |

NBC News |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Tucson, Arizona

Amongst other efforts, the University of Arizona has begun analyzing sewage to mitigate the spread of coronavirus as students return to campus for the new school year. The practice is known as wastewater-based epidemiology, and university officials have already been able to diagnose and isolate two asymptomatic cases due to this new initiative.

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The Navajo Nation and White Mountain Apache Tribe chase down a virus

Kalen Goodluck

August 28, 2020 |

High Country News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona

The White Mountain Apache and the Navajo Nation are using contact tracing to not just slow the spread of coronavirus but to "completely contain" it in their communities, and they are already seeing success from their aggressive efforts. The tribes originally had some of the highest numbers of cases, but according to a local epidemiologist and physician at Whiteriver Indian Hospital, they have now “seen a significant decline in cases on the reservation at the same time that things were on fire for the rest of the state."

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As COVID-19 cases rise, experts question effectiveness of contact tracing in S.D. and across the U.S.

Nick Lowrey

August 21, 2020 |

South Dakota News Watch |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, South Dakota

Contact tracing has been touted as an effective tool for slowing the spread of COVID-19 and has shown success in countries such as South Korea – helping to not just identify potential superspreader events, but to also help the economy remain largely open. In the U.S., contact tracers in South Dakota have been able to "identify 35,000 close contacts of coronavirus patients during the pandemic so far," but health experts question if the workforce spans enough of the state.

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How an Indigenous Community in Brazil Used Tech to Contain the Coronavirus

Isabela Dias

August 19, 2020 |

Slate |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Brazil, Ipatse Village

An indigenous community in Brazil has been able to keep their count of coronavirus cases low during the pandemic largely due to the use of contact tracing. Using technology that was already in existence for the purpose of tracking "archaeological, sacred places and ancestral settlements, as well as cultivated areas," the community was able to identify potential cases, test those who had been exposed and quarantine anyone who tested positive.

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Contact Tracers in Massachusetts Might Order Milk or Help With Rent. Here's Why.

Martha Bebinger

August 13, 2020 |

Kaiser Health News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Brockton, Massachusetts

In Massachusettes, contact tracers for COVID-19 are tasked with an additional responsibility that includes acting as a care resource coordinator to better help those they're interacting with make "the best choice for the public." So far, approximately 10-15% of those who have been contacted as part of contact tracing efforts have utilized the assistance service which has helped them stay isolated while still having access to necessities such as "food, medicine, masks and cleaning supplies."

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On Native American Land, Contact Tracing Is Saving Lives

Gina Kolata

August 13, 2020 |

The New York Times |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Fort Apache Reservation, Arizona

As coronavirus spread throughout the White Mountain Apache tribe in Arizona residents on the reservation turned to contact tracing – not to slow the spread, but to identify those who were high risk and may be infected with the virus, before they became too ill to recover. This strategy focused on testing blood oxygen levels and has resulted in a far lower mortality rate among the tribe as compared to the state. Now, researchers think it could serve as a model for other "hard-to-reach" communities.

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