Effect of Contact Tracing on the Spread of COVID-19

Can Different Levels of Contact Tracing Affect the Spread of COVID-19?

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has proven to have immensely negative effects on a global scale, ranging from a strain on healthcare systems to an impending recession. As the virus has spread, medical personnel across the United States are faced with the challenge of treating a growing number of patients, while U.S. residents are attempting to keep themselves safe from the disease. Hospitals are overwhelmed, personal protective equipment and essential medical equipment are scarce, and many non-essential businesses have been temporarily closed.

In hopes of understanding ways to alleviate the stress put on the healthcare system, this site will research and analyze the effects of contact tracing on the spread of COVID-19 in the United States, particularly focusing on how different levels of contact tracing can impact the infection rate. We convey our results through a simulation, with discussion of the economic theory associated with the simulation model to supplement our findings.