What’s the difference between case investigation and contact tracing?
- Case investigation is part of the process of supporting patients with suspected or confirmed infection and includes a discussion to help patients recall everyone with whom they had close contact during the timeframe in which they may have been infectious.
- Contact tracing lets people know they may have been exposed to an infectious agent and what to do next for their own health and the health of others.
- Case investigation and contact tracing involve getting the names of all relevant contacts and following up with them. Case investigation and contact tracing programs for COVID-19 should be tailored to local resources and needs.