Important update: Healthcare facilities

CDC has updated select ways to operate healthcare systems effectively in response to COVID-19 vaccination. Learn more

Find the latest information:
Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People
COVID-19 Homepage

UPDATE

Given new evidence on the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant, CDC has updated the guidance for fully vaccinated people. CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. Children should return to full-time in-person learning in the fall with layered prevention strategies in place.

UPDATE

The White House announced that vaccines will be required for international travelers coming into the United States, with an effective date of November 8, 2021. For purposes of entry into the United States, vaccines accepted will include FDA approved or authorized and WHO Emergency Use Listing vaccines. More information is available here.

UPDATE

Travel requirements to enter the United States are changing, starting November 8, 2021. More information is available here.

COVID-19 Case Investigation & Contact Tracing Training Resources

Updated May 17, 2022

Image of person talking to a person from the health department. cdc.gov/coronavirus.

A successful notification of exposure allows for an exchange of information with the person exposed to COVID-19 (close contact) and offers an opportunity to answer questions and provide referrals for testing, medical evaluation, vaccination, and other support services.

What You Need to Know

Case investigation and contact tracing are part of a layered prevention strategy against COVID-19.
Effective case investigation and contact tracing requires specific skills and knowledge within organizations.
No-cost training Pdf[2 Pages, 162 KB] is available in multiple formats to support building knowledge and skills for case investigation and contact tracing.

Training Resources Available

Training resources are available for public health professionals in multiple roles related to case investigation and contact tracing.

Making Contact: A Training for COVID-19 Case Investigators and Contact Tracers

RegisterExternal
Target Audience: General public
Source: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)
Description: Online course for entry-level COVID-19 contact tracers. This course is for use by health agencies in rapid training of new contact tracers. The training will be augmented by state/local specific training required to orient individuals to jurisdiction-specific protocols.

National COVID-19 Virtual Skills-Based Trainings for Case Investigation & Contact Tracing

RegisterExternal
Target Audience: Persons who will be conducting COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing activities in their designated jurisdictions. Although not required, participants are encouraged to complete the ASTHOExternal training or the Johns HopkinsExternal online, knowledge-based course prior to taking this skills-based course)
Source: National Network of Disease Intervention Training Centers (NNDITC)
Description: Foundational and enhanced interviewing skills will be reinforced and applied throughout the practice sessions. The courses will show how to determine the contact elicitation window, elicit close contact information, and provide recommendations and guidelines. Participants will learn how to conduct a case investigation interview in the Case Investigation course and a contact tracing interview in the Contact Tracing course. The Case Investigation course will address common concerns persons with COVID-19 may experience during isolation. The Contact Tracing course will address common issues persons exposed to COVID-19 may experience during quarantine.

COVID-19 Leadership – Best Practices for Team Leads

RegisterExternal
Target Audience: Public health leaders who manage case investigators and contact tracers
Source: National Network of Disease Intervention Training Centers (NNDITC)
Description: Participants will learn about the 10 essential public health services and how they are integrated into COVID-19 Team Lead responsibilities to help effectively manage a team. Course completion will enhance the comprehensive leadership skills of managers working with case investigators and contact tracers.
This training is not recorded. It is a live, instructor-led training. To obtain a certificate, full attendance and active participation are required for two days. The trainings are offered by demand, so register only if you will attend.

The Essentials of Leadership and Management: A Training for COVID-19 Contact Tracing Program Supervisors

RegisterExternal
Target Audience: Public health leaders who manage case investigators and contact tracers supporting COVID-19 programs
Source: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)
Description: This course prepares new and existing supervisors for their roles within governmental public health agencies. The course covers core management and leadership competencies. The course draws from fundamental management and leadership content used in organizational development, leadership development, and management and strategy courses. It also incorporates case examples and technical content specific to those supervising COVID-19 contact tracers. Participants receive numerous resources to support their ongoing management and leadership development during and following the course.

COVID-19 Contact Tracing Training Scenarios

These scenarios can be used by trainers and team leads to build skills for contact tracers and case investigators.

Disclaimer: All names and events included in these scenarios are fictitious and intended for training purposes only. These scenarios are not based on real people or events.

Contact Tracing Scenarios: Case Investigation

[PDF - 84 KB]

Contact Tracing Scenarios: Disaster Shelters

[PDF - 163 KB]

Case Investigation and Contact Tracing by the Numbers

93% of those completing the survey for Making Contact: A Training for COVID-19 Contact Tracers and Case Investigators as of March 31, 2022 felt they better understand what it means to be a contact tracer (3/31/22).

95% of those completing the survey for the National COVID-19 Virtual Skills-Based Courses for Case Investigators and Contact Tracers as of March 31, 2022 felt the training content accurately addressed their needs and goals (3/31/22).

112,118 individuals completed at least one of the introductory case investigation or contact tracing courses developed and hosted by CDC training partners (3/31/22).

Over 65% of those completing case investigation and contact tracing courses developed and hosted by CDC training partners as of March 31, 2022, were actively doing contact tracing or case investigation (3/31/22).