{"id":8008,"date":"2020-04-06T08:25:32","date_gmt":"2020-04-06T00:25:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/explainer-what-is-contact-tracing-and-how-does-it-help-limit-the-coronavirus-spread\/"},"modified":"2022-12-07T13:09:54","modified_gmt":"2022-12-07T05:09:54","slug":"explainer-what-is-contact-tracing-and-how-does-it-help-limit-the-coronavirus-spread","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/explainer-what-is-contact-tracing-and-how-does-it-help-limit-the-coronavirus-spread\/","title":{"rendered":"Explainer: what is contact tracing and how does it help limit the coronavirus spread?"},"content":{"rendered":"

You might have heard about contact tracing<\/a> which, when combined with social distancing, has proven a powerful asset in controlling the spread of COVID-19.<\/p>\n

In short, it means assigning a \u201ccontact tracer\u201d to interview each person with a confirmed case of COVID-19. The contact tracer<\/a>, through painstaking and quick detective work, finds out who else might have already acquired the virus from the infectious person, or been exposed.<\/p>\n

\u201cClose contacts\u201d of a person who might have COVID-19 can then be isolated (if sick) or quarantined (if well) to lessen further spread of the virus. The contact tracer will be especially interested in any contact who may be in a higher-risk group, such as older or immuno-compromised people.<\/p>\n

This technique has also been used to better understand and limit the spread of HIV, meningitis and other diseases. It is a powerful tool discovered almost a century ago to limit<\/a> the spread of sexually transmitted infections from and to American troops.<\/p>\n

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\nRead more:
\nHow do we detect if coronavirus is spreading in the community?<\/a>
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Close contacts<\/h2>\n

The COVID-19 virus is located in the respiratory tract and is spread when someone coughs or sneezes, dispersing infected droplets like a scatter gun.<\/p>\n

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One sneeze or cough can spread infected droplets everywhere, even onto surfaces that people may touch later. Image Michael Bret Hart, Author provided<\/figcaption><\/figure>
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Several people can be infected from one COVID-19 positive person, even by later entering a room and touching contaminated objects.<\/p>\n

So contact tracing under these circumstances is challenging. The droplet spreader will have to recall his or her movements carefully.<\/p>\n

The contact tracer will be especially interested to know:<\/p>\n