CDC has released new recommendations prioritizing case investigations and contact tracing to assist health departments experiencing escalating COVID-19 cases. These new recommendations further refine existing prioritization recommendations and presents new modeling data regarding timeframes to maximize the effectiveness of contact tracing activities.

The new case investigation and contact tracing prioritization recommendations are available on CDC’s website.

Key prioritization recommendations include:

• Prioritize case investigation interviews for people diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 6 days (based on specimen collection date or symptom onset, if known);
• Prioritize contact tracing efforts on household contacts exposed in past 6 days, and people living, working or visiting congregate living facilities, high density workplaces or other settings (or events) with potential extensive transmission;
• If more than 14 days have elapsed since the specimen was collected, case investigation should generally not be pursued.

For more information and resources on Contact Tracing, refer to Contract Tracing Resources for Health Departments.