Cross-country evidence on the association between contact tracing and COVID-19 case fatality rates.

ABSTRACT: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak has killed over a million people since its emergence in late 2019. However, there has been substantial variability in the policies and intensity of diagnostic efforts between countries. In this paper, we quantitatively evaluate the association between national contact tracing policies and case fatality rates of COVID-19 in 138 countries. Our regression analyses indicate that countries that implement comprehensive contact tracing have significantly lower case fatality rates. This association of contact tracing policy and case fatality rates is robust in our longitudinal regression models, even after controlling for the number of tests conducted and non-pharmaceutical control measures adopted by governments. Our results suggest that comprehensive c

SUBMITTER: Yalaman A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7835347 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature