As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, local health departments (LHDs) are leveraging some of the oldest public health tools—contact tracing, notification, and quarantine—to identify potential cases and rapidly deploy infection prevention and control measures.

To support LHDs as they design, establish, scale up, and strengthen their contact tracing programs, NACCHO has launched Contact Tracing Tools for COVID-19 Response, an online hub that highlights the most useful contact tracing resources from governmental public health, academia, think tanks, and nonprofits.

The hub includes six sections:

• Context and Rationale, which includes resources that characterize the context and rationale for contact tracing in response to the pandemic, including white papers, position pieces, and expert opinion.
• Program Planning, which includes resources to inform program planning for contact tracing, including tools to help LHDs assess their workforce needs, develop contact tracing strategies and plans, adapt their efforts as the pandemic evolves, and evaluate their impact to ensure an effective response.
• Training and Management, which includes resources for training and management of the contract tracing workforce, including sample training plans; principles and best practices; free, virtual, high-quality trainings; and strategies for relieving stress and preventing burnout.
• Tools and Technology, which includes tools for contact tracers and program managers, including checklists, workflows, and digital technologies, as well as resources characterizing different approaches and technologies for contact tracing.
• Planning, Financial, and Human Resources, which includes resources to support LHDs in scaling up their contact tracing workforce, including links to potential paid and volunteer staffing solutions, and strategies for leveraging existing personnel, funding, and community resources.
• Communications, which includes resources to support contact tracing communications, including communication guidelines and best practices and multilingual health education and contact tracing materials.

To access the hub, visit here.