Key performance indicators of COVID-19 contact tracing in Belgium from September 2020 to December 2021 (original) (raw)
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COVID-19 Contact Tracing in Belgium: Main Indicators and Performance, January - September 2021
2022
Background: Contact tracing is one of the main public health tools in the control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A centralized contact tracing system was developed in Belgium in 2020. We aim to evaluate the performance and describe the results, between January 01, 2021, and September 30, 2021. The characteristics of COVID-19 cases and the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on testing and tracing are also described.Methods: We combined laboratory diagnostic test data (molecular and antigen test), vaccination data, and contact tracing data. A descriptive analysis was done to evaluate the performance of contact tracing and describe insights into the epidemiology of COVID-19 by contact tracing. Results: Between January and September 2021, 555.181 COVID-19 cases were reported to the central contact center and 91% were contacted. The average delay between symptom onset and contact tracing initiation was around 5 days, of which 4 days corresponded to pre-testing delay. High-Risk Conta...
2021
ABSTRACTBackgroundContact tracing is conducted with the primary purpose of interrupting transmission from individuals who are likely to be infectious to others. Secondary analyses of data on the numbers of close contacts of confirmed cases could also: provide an early signal of increases in contact patterns that might precede larger than expected case numbers; evaluate the impact of government interventions on the number of contacts of confirmed cases; or provide data information on contact rates between age cohorts for the purpose of epidemiological modelling.MethodsWe analysed data from 140,204 contacts of 39861 cases in Ireland from 1st May to 1st December 2020. Only ‘close’ contacts were included in the analysis. A close contact was defined as any individual who had had > 15 minutes face-to-face (<2 m) contact with a case; any household contact; or any individual sharing a closed space for longer than 2 hours, in any setting.ResultsThe number of contacts per case was overd...
Early Evidence of Effectiveness of Digital Contact Tracing for SARS-CoV-2 in Switzerland
2020
In the wake of the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), contact tracing has become a key element of strategies to control the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2019 (SARS-CoV-2). Given the rapid and intense spread of SARS-CoV-2, digital contact tracing has emerged as a potential complementary tool to support containment and mitigation efforts. Early modelling studies highlighted the potential of digital contact tracing to break transmission chains, and Google and Apple subsequently developed the Exposure Notification (EN) framework, making it available to the vast majority of smartphones. A growing number of governments have launched or announced EN-based contact tracing apps, but their effectiveness remains unknown. Here, we report early findings of the digital contact tracing app deployment in Switzerland. We demonstrate proof-of-principle that digital contact tracing reaches exposed contacts, who then test positive for SARS-CoV-2. This indicates ...
Vaccine, 2021
In Belgium, high-risk contacts of an infected person were offered PCR-testing irrespective of their vaccination status. We estimated vaccine effectiveness (VE) against infection and onwards transmission, controlling for previous infections, household-exposure and temporal trends. We included 301,741 tests from 25 January to 24 June 2021. Full-schedule vaccination was associated with significant protection against infection. In addition, mRNA-vaccines reduced onward transmission: VE-estimates increased to >90% when index and contact were fully vaccinated. The small number of viral-vector vaccines included limited interpretability.
2021
Background: Transmission risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to close contacts and at different exposure settings are yet to be fully understood for the evaluation of effective control measures. Methods: We traced 1171 close contact cases who were linked to 291 index cases between July 3, 2020 and September 3, 2020. Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of all index cases, close contacts, and secondary contact cases were collected and analyzed the secondary attack rate and risk of transmission at different exposure settings. Results: Median age of 291 index cases were 43.0 years (range 18.5-82.3) including 213 male and 78 females. Among all 1171 close contact cases, 39(3.3%) cases were identified as secondary infected cases. Among 39 secondary cases, 33(84.62%) cases were symptomatic and 3 (7.69%) cases were asymptomatic. Of the 33 symptomatic cases, 31(86.1%) male and 5(13.9%) female. Of these 36 symptomatic cases, 24(66.7%) cases between age 20-59 and remaining 12(3...
Contact tracing in epidemiology Lessons learnt from COVID
Magna Scientia Advanced Research and Reviews, 2022
Contact tracing is a powerful public health tool used in identifying people that might have been in contact with an infected person to assess the potential of being infected and transmitting the diseases. This review explores the history, implementation, and effects of contact tracing, as a significant public health strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The review started by giving a historical summary of contact tracing, then links it to early efforts at disease control for diseases such smallpox and TB. We further examine pre-COVID-19 contact tracing approaches, such as manual and early digital tools employed during past epidemics like Ebola and Zika. While investigating the development of digital innovations—such as Bluetooth-based applications and location data tracking—that were used to improve tracing efforts—the review emphasises the efficacy and problems of conventional manual contact tracing during COVID-19. Notably, we examine the hybrid models that combine manual and digital approaches, proving higher compliance and efficiency. Along with the difficulties countries with less efficient tracing systems—such as the United States and India—the review also includes worldwide case studies showing successful implementations in countries such Taiwan, South Korea, and New Zealand. Emphasising the need of public trust and the effect of the digital divide, it also covers public compliance and social elements affecting involvement in contact tracing programs. In order to strengthen public health preparedness for next pandemics, we offer potential options for contact tracing resilience, arguing for contact systems backed by technological developments and ethical protections. Informing best practices for next epidemiological tactics, this thorough analysis uncovers important insights and lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic.
SARS-CoV-2 Catalonia contact tracing program: evaluation of key performance indicators
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Background Guidance on SARS-CoV-2 contact tracing indicators have been recently revised by international public health agencies. The aim of the study is to describe and analyse contact tracing indicators based on Catalonia’s (Spain) real data and proposing to update them according to recommendations. Methods Retrospective cohort analysis including Catalonia’s contact tracing dataset from 20 May until 31 December 2020. Descriptive statistics are performed including sociodemographic stratification by age, and differences are assessed over the study period. Results We analysed 923,072 contacts from 301,522 SARS-CoV-2 cases with identified contacts (67.1% contact tracing coverage). The average number of contacts per case was 4.6 (median 3, range 1–243). A total of 403,377 contacts accepted follow-up through three phone calls over a 14-day quarantine period (84.5% of contacts requiring follow-up). The percentage of new cases declared as contacts 14 days prior to diagnosis evolved from 33...
Contact tracing indicators for COVID-19: rapid scoping review and conceptual framework
2021
BackgroundContact tracing is one of the key interventions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic but its implementation varies widely across countries. There is little guidance on how to monitor contact tracing performance, and no systematic overview of indicators to assess contact tracing systems or conceptual framework for such indicators exists to date.MethodsWe conducted a rapid scoping review using a systematic literature search strategy in the peer-reviewed and grey literature as well as open source online documents. We developed a conceptual framework to map indicators by type (input, process, output, outcome, impact) and thematic area (human resources, financial resources, case investigation, contact identification, contact testing, contact follow up, case isolation, contact quarantine, transmission chain interruption, incidence reduction).ResultsWe identified a total of 153 contact tracing indicators from 1,555 peer-reviewed studies, 894 studies from grey literature sources, ...
Modelling the impact of contact tracing of symptomatic individuals on the COVID-19 epidemic
2021
OBJECTIVESWith declining numbers of COVID-19 cases in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, social distancing measures were gradually being lifted. The risk of an increase in the number of cases, however, cannot be overlooked. Even with the adoption of non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as restrictions on mass gatherings, wearing masks, and complete or partial closure of schools, other public health measures may help to control the epidemic. We aimed to evaluate the impact of the contact tracing of symptomatic individuals on the COVID-19 epidemic regardless of the use of diagnostic testing.METHODSWe developed a mathematical model that includes isolation of symptomatic individuals and tracing of contacts to assess the effects of the contact tracing of symptomatic individuals on the COVID-19 epidemic in the State of São Paulo.RESULTSFor a selection efficacy (proportion of isolated contacts who are infected) of 80%, cases and deaths may be reduced by 80% after 60 days when 5000 symptomat...
Journal of Public Administration and Governance, vol. 12, n. 3, pp. 19-33, 2022
One of the fundamental questions in the presence of Coronavirus Diseases 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic crisis and in general of new pandemic diseases is the planning of design effective policy responses to reduce the impact in the initial phase of diffusion, when appropriate therapies and drugs lack. This study analyses a prominent case study given by Italy, one of the first European countries to be damaged by the impact of COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020. In particular, this study focuses on health policy responses to the pandemic crisis between selected Italian regions (Veneto and Piedmont) that were the first areas to experience a rapid increase in confirmed cases and deaths of COVID-19. The analysis of early health policies, from February to July 2020 (during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic), reveals that some regions have managed this pandemic crisis with appropriate policy responses based on: a) timely and widespread testing of individuals, b) effective task force of epidemiological investigation in a pervasive contact-tracing system to detect and isolate all infected people. This health policy has reduced total deaths and negative effects of COVID-19 on people's health during the first pandemic wave, when pharmaceutical