1. The public health impact of COVID-19 variants of concern on the effectiveness of contact tracing in Vermont, United States.
- Author
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Castonguay FM, Borah BF, Jeon S, Rainisch G, Kelso P, Adhikari BB, Daltry DJ, Fischer LS, Greening B Jr, Kahn EB, Kang GJ, and Meltzer MI
- Subjects
- Vermont epidemiology, Humans, COVID-19 epidemiology, COVID-19 prevention & control, COVID-19 transmission, COVID-19 virology, Contact Tracing methods, SARS-CoV-2 isolation & purification, Public Health
- Abstract
Case investigation and contact tracing (CICT) are public health measures that aim to break the chain of pathogen transmission. Changes in viral characteristics of COVID-19 variants have likely affected the effectiveness of CICT programs. We estimated and compared the cases averted in Vermont when the original COVID-19 strain circulated (Nov. 25, 2020-Jan. 19, 2021) with two periods when the Delta strain dominated (Aug. 1-Sept. 25, 2021, and Sept. 26-Nov. 20, 2021). When the original strain circulated, we estimated that CICT prevented 7180 cases (55% reduction in disease burden), compared to 1437 (15% reduction) and 9970 cases (40% reduction) when the Delta strain circulated. Despite the Delta variant being more infectious and having a shorter latency period, CICT remained an effective tool to slow spread of COVID-19; while these viral characteristics did diminish CICT effectiveness, non-viral characteristics had a much greater impact on CICT effectiveness., (© 2024. This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.)
- Published
- 2024
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