Contact Tracing for Containment of Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in the Early Phase of the Epidemic in the Maldives.

Abstract

The objective of the study was to find the effectiveness of contract tracing and containment measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Contact tracing approach in the Maldives was examined and information on the cases and contacts was extracted from the GO.DATA software and the outbreak online database that was adopted by the Maldives for COVID-19 epidemic. A mathematical model was developed to provide information on expected number of cases and contacts. The effectiveness of contact tracing was analyzed by comparing the model-projected figures and the actual cases and contacts reported. The setting was National Emergency Operations Centre of the Maldives for COVID-19 outbreak, and the subjects were cases and contacts of COVID-19. Up to July 19, 2020 (week 29), there were 2966 confirmed cases and 23 091 contacts traced. The procedures employed in the contact tracing and containment measures in the Maldives were effective in delaying the spread of COVID-19 in the community. The cases and contacts were found to be lower than the predicted mathematical model.