contact tracing

American  

[kon-takt trey-sing] / ˈkɒn tækt ˌtreɪ sɪŋ /

noun

1. a public health measure undertaken to slow and eventually halt the spread of a disease that is transmitted person-to-person, in which people who have come in close proximity to or direct contact with an infected person are identified and monitored for signs of infection. These individuals, along with any of their contacts who manifest symptoms, are generally required to isolate themselves long enough to be treated, if necessary, before they can infect others.

   Rigorous contact tracing accompanied by widespread testing has proven effective in reducing deaths during an epidemic.

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Other Word Forms

• contact trace verb (used with or without object)
• contact tracer noun

Etymology

Origin of contact tracing

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

The future historians face toilet-paper shortages, quarantines and contact tracing.

From The Wall Street Journal

Contact tracing and the daily testing of ocean water quality could slow down.

From Los Angeles Times

“Right now, our best strategy to avoid spread is contact tracing, so reaching out to everybody that came in contact with this person,” Merchant said.

From Los Angeles Times

The first is how much it costs a local or state health department to address each case, which includes contact tracing, targeted vaccination mobilization and testing.

From MarketWatch

Rishi Sunak has not been called to give evidence to this three-week section of the Covid inquiry, which is looking at testing, contact tracing and isolation policies.

From BBC