contact tracing

[ kon-takt trey-sing ]

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.

Other Words From

• con·tact trace verb (used with or without object)
• con·tact trac·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of contact tracing¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Then, Kevin Durant vented about the league’s contact tracing protocol, which sidelined him for the second time this season and saw him pulled from the court during the middle of a game.

From Washington Post

Players can end up on the list because of positive tests, symptoms, contact tracing or travel quarantines.

From Washington Post

The knowledge can help with contact tracing, should that be necessary.

From Popular-Science

Players can be put on the list for multiple reasons, including if they had a positive test, are in contact tracing or are symptomatic.

From Washington Post

Following an immediate contact tracing effort, a second member of Buttigieg’s security detail was also deemed a “close contact,” according to Schiller’s statement, but no one else fit that category.

From Washington Post

But actually, contact tracing is the core principle of all public-health endeavors.

From The Daily Beast

In other words, contact tracing with appropriate surveillance of those at risk has worked exactly according to plan.

From The Daily Beast

The core of that, the way to stop Ebola in its tracks is contact tracing, and follow-up.

From The Daily Beast

“Contact tracing” sounds like something that would excite only the grimmest of health-care operations implementation scientists.

From The Daily Beast

And because of contact tracing, Dallas and the greater U.S. remain safe.

From The Daily Beast