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A key issue to keep our eye on: CONTACT TRACING.
Half of those who test + for #COVID19 are not contacted by a health dept official. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/10/19/923972496/covid-19-test-results-get-faster-but-still-too-slow-to-help-slow-disease-spread
Half of those who test + for #COVID19 are not contacted by a health dept official. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/10/19/923972496/covid-19-test-results-get-faster-but-still-too-slow-to-help-slow-disease-spread
This defeats half the point of testing - which is meant to BOTH isolate those who are positive, AND stop chains of transmission.
If the friends, family, & close contacts of a + case aren't talked to -- they will not get tested; they will not quarantine; the disease will spread.
If the friends, family, & close contacts of a + case aren't talked to -- they will not get tested; they will not quarantine; the disease will spread.
--Why are we failing?--
Two reasons.
Two reasons.
First: Lack of funding, & consequent lack of "boots on the ground."Contact tracing is the bedrock of infectious disease epidemiology & #publichealth. But underfunded depts of health have no $ or staff, and simply can't keep up. https://khn.org/news/us-public-health-system-underfunded-under-threat-faces-more-cuts-amid-covid-pandemic/
This is about to get worse, as @CDCgov has (appropriately) just expanded the definition of "close contact" to include ppl with multiple close contacts to a case.... so: more people to trace, for every + test.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/21/health/cdc-covid-close-contact-guidelines-cumulative/index.html @CNN
https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/21/health/cdc-covid-close-contact-guidelines-cumulative/index.html @CNN
To me, this is an area that big tech can step in. I'd love to see a large company work with local depts of health to deploy easy-to-use, ETHICAL, private tools to facilitate tracing. cc
An example from my own @RIHEALTH -good but not perfect: https://www.wpri.com/health/coronavirus/ris-new-contact-tracing-app-how-it-works-and-why-the-state-wants-you-to-use-it/
An example from my own @RIHEALTH -good but not perfect: https://www.wpri.com/health/coronavirus/ris-new-contact-tracing-app-how-it-works-and-why-the-state-wants-you-to-use-it/
(Unfortunately, existing tools leave a lot to be desired, whether from usability, privacy, or integration into human systems.
A great area for public-private partnership IMO - cc @karaswisher)
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD013699/full
A great area for public-private partnership IMO - cc @karaswisher)
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD013699/full
Second reason: Continued barriers to testing, that stop people from knowing they're positive in the 1st place, & that make contact tracing difficult:There are still not ENOUGH tests.
They are still not EASY TO ACCESS.
They still take TOO LONG to get results.
... and if it takes too long to get results ->
it will be past the quarantine period, for any contacts
+ cases won't remember who they were in touch with
it makes the whole exercise pointless
it will be past the quarantine period, for any contacts+ cases won't remember who they were in touch withit makes the whole exercise pointless
To be clear: "A commitment to increasing the number of tests and suppressing the virus requires dedicated funding; continued investment in technology and test development; and smarter, more strategic use of our resources."
https://www.aamc.org/covidroadmap/testing @AtulGroverMD @ashishkjha
https://www.aamc.org/covidroadmap/testing @AtulGroverMD @ashishkjha
That said, I like to end with hope. What can WE as individual Americans do?1. Advocate for improved access to testing
2. Advocate for funding for #ContactTracing for depts of health
3. Know how to get tested
4. Reach out to close contacts if we are COVID+- bc noone else will
Lastly: For those interested in what to do if YOU are identified as a close contact of someone with #COVID19 --> basically, stay home/away from others for 14 days [& consider getting tested at the end]: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/public-health-recommendations.html
