Read on Twitter
THREAD on #ContactTracing. Slow progress, workforce challenges, and lack of coordination implementing a critical intervention to reopening America. Many aspects are "All over the map," except there is no map for most of it. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/23/sunday-review/coronavirus-contact-tracing.html
2/ Website reporting #ContactTracing capacity as a state-level risk indicator using a simple 1:10 ratio of cases to #ContactTracers. Ultimately, we need to track actual program results data such as % of contacts reached in under 48 hours. https://covidactnow.org/
3/ This website is updating state-level #ContactTracers daily. Only 10 states currently enough contact tracers (they are using 5+ per daily case). Only 15 states have plans to hire enough contact tracers. https://testandtrace.com/
4/ #workforce problems abound: @fema has deployed only 3,000 staff nationwide in a 50-state disaster response. This compares with 21,000 federal staff deployed after Hurricane Harvey. Why not a #COVIDResponseCorps? https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/22/climate/fema-volunteer-disaster-response.html
5/ Lack of coordination: "The pandemic patchwork exists because the U.S. is a patchwork to its core." Some mayors now taking #ContactTracing seriously. "The best tool we have to manage the pandemic until we have a safe & effective vaccine” @C_R_Watson https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/05/patchwork-pandemic-states-reopening-inequalities/611866/
6/ "A much bigger workforce" needed for #ContactTracing @MarcusPlescia of @ASTHO. "An army of disease detectives," Judy Monroe @CDCFound. Leadership from @ASlavitt @ResolveTSL and in #SanFrancisco @mikereidmd https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2766558
7/ Training: @ASTHO and @NCSDDC program has trained over 10,000 individuals in #ContactTracing. 1,000+ registering per day for free, online course. https://www.astho.org/Press-Room/As-Unemployment-Rises-Thousands-of-COVID-19-Contact-Tracers-Trained-Through-New-Online-Training-Course-in-All-50-States/05-15-20/
8/ Training: More than 210,000 have enrolled in the free, online #ContactTracing course from @JohnsHopkins on @coursera https://www.coursera.org/learn/covid-19-contact-tracing?edocomorp=covid-19-contact-tracing
9/ #ContactTracing works but huge effort: A hairstylist in #Missouri worked while symptomatic & exposed 91 people. Impeccable records made contact tracing possible. "We can't make this a regular habit or our capabilities as a community will be strained." https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/23/us/missouri-hairstylist-coronavirus-trnd/index.html
10/ Other countries showing what's possible and the economic benefits: #SouthKorea just flexed its #ContactTracing power: After partiers with #COVID19 went to nightclubs, it found and tested 46,000 exposed people, stopping the outbreak. https://www.businessinsider.com/south-korea-contact-tracing-helped-control-nightclub-outbreak-2020-5
11/ #California just launched its #COVID19 #ContactTracing program using billboards, radio ads, social media posts and video ads to raise awareness of the program. https://www.cnet.com/health/california-launches-covid-19-contact-tracing-program/
12/ Guidance for #ContactTracing & training available from @CDCgov. ”Jurisdictions that have <50% of new cases with an unknown exposure source likely have likely achieved high levels of case ascertainment, interviewing, and contact tracing.” We need data! https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing/index.html
13/ More workforce challenges: #Georgia public health agency proposing to furlough staff. Surprising given @GaDPH crucial role in fighting the pandemic. “I am sorry but what? We need everyone we can working on infectious diseases” @CarlosdelRio7 https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/georgia-public-health-agency-among-those-proposing-furlough-staff/hU4UZSBhlaby4t8lQTrhMO/
14/ To reopen America, we need a robust, trained national workforce implementing data-driven #ContactTracing to stop chains of transmission of #COVID19. Why not a #COVIDResponseCorps? Instead, we may be losing 46,000 deployed @NationalGuard https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/22/national-guard-deployments-mark-esper-274628