Measuring and Maximizing Impact of COVID-19 Contact Tracing Course Syllabus

Overview: This short, focused course is designed for public health professionals seeking to measure and enhance the impact of COVID-19 contact tracing programs. Over approximately 2 hours and 46 minutes of total learning time, learners engage with three concise modules that combine expert instruction, hands-on exercises, and practical tools. The course emphasizes data-driven decision-making, centered on the ConTESSA tool, and is ideal for those with prior experience in public health or contact tracing. Upon completion, learners earn a certificate of achievement.

Module 1: Measuring indicators of impact in contact tracing

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Basics of SARS-CoV-2 transmission
• Infectious period and generation time
• Using reproductive number to gauge impact
• Calculate key impact indicators

Module 2: Interactive tool to estimate impact in contact tracing

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Overview of the ConTESSA tool
• Surveillance and tracing metrics
• Entering data on isolation, household, and community cases
• Viewing dashboards and reports

Module 3: Strategies to increase impact and review assumptions

Estimated time: 0.8 hours

• Ways to improve tracing impact
• Comparing programs using scenarios
• Understanding model assumptions
• Exploring advanced options

Prerequisites

• Experience in public health or contact tracing
• Familiarity with basic disease transmission concepts
• Interest in data-driven public health interventions

What You'll Be Able to Do After

• Track and measure key performance indicators in contact tracing programs
• Use the ConTESSA tool to simulate and evaluate tracing strategies
• Generate reports and interpret dashboards for program improvement
• Apply data insights to enhance the effectiveness of contact tracing
• Understand the assumptions behind modeling tools and their implications for public health decisions