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Microbe Mappers Are Tracking Covid-19's Invisible Traces

Megan Molteni

April 29, 2020 |

Wired |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Scientists have been mapping microbes in public places for a long time and are now tracking Covid-19 by swabbing subways, park benches, ATMs, and even the air, for traces of genetic material to better understand the virus’ transmission dynamics and detect hotspots before transmission becomes widespread. Molecular monitoring has identified how long the virus can live on different surfaces and the origin of different strains, which can flag sanitation priorities and help contact tracers. There are limits to what it can reveal because finding virus on surfaces does not always lead to definite infection.

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Utah Guard soldiers bring their language skills to a new battlefront — as contact tracers in war against coronavirus

Nate Carlisle

April 27, 2020 |

The Salt Lake Tribune |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Utah

To contain coronavirus, Utah has enabled contact tracing that utilizes state employees to make phone calls to those who have potentially been exposed to the virus but many they call do not speak English. To address the language barrier, members from the Utah National Guard’s 300th Military Intelligence Brigade – who serve on the linguistic unit – are volunteering to provide translations.

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In Seoul, the Art World Gets Back to Business

Su-Hyun Lee Brett Sokol

April 27, 2020 |

The New York Times |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: South Korea, Seoul

The art world in Seoul is cautiously taking steps to reopening business following the COVID-19 quarantine. To keep safe, galleries are practicing the usual social distancing guidelines, wearing masks, and collecting contact information from visitors in order to contact trace if necessary. The art world is now in the process of figuring out how to adapt their business with the new normal brought by the coronavirus.

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Some Countries Are Squashing the Coronavirus Curve. Vietnam Is One.

Niharika Mandhana Lam Le

April 27, 2020 |

Wall Street Journal |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Vietnam, Hanoi

Vietnam implemented rigid protocols around contact tracing and quarantine methodologies in order to contain the coronavirus outbreak, and so far, it has paid off with no deaths and a manageable caseload. Although a large population of citizens are still in government quarantine facilities, signs of reopening parts of the economy are underway and the overall response to the pandemic may help gain credibility from "global manufacturers looking to diversify out of China."

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Contact tracing for COVID-19 starts on a small scale in Philly

Nina Feldman

April 23, 2020 |

WHYY |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

In Philadelphia, volunteers with the University of Pennsylvania have launched a small-scale effort in contact tracing, a method in which disease detectives track and monitor the interactions and movements of known infected people. Both time- and labor-intensive, contact tracing is most effective on the front end of an outbreak, when there are fewer cases. The university has trained a few dozen volunteers, though limited access to testing and violations of privacy remain concerns.

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How location data can help track and stop the spread of COVID-19

Hiatt Woods

April 23, 2020 |

Business Insider |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Singapore

When it comes to containing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, many experts point to contact tracing, in which disease detectives track and monitor the interactions and movements of known infected people, as the key. From more manual, labor-intensive detective methods to high-tech app-based methods, contact tracing tactics can vary, but the basic concept remains the same. However, there is a trade off between safety and privacy.

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Test, trace, contain: how South Korea flattened its coronavirus curve

Justin McCurry

April 23, 2020 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: South Korea, Seoul

With one of the lowest mortality rates in the world and a rapidly declining rate of new COVID-19 cases, South Korea has emerged as a world leader in containing the pandemic. Many credit widespread testing and contact tracing, or the tracking of infected people using their own descriptions of their movements as well as GPS phone tracking, surveillance camera records, and credit card transactions. Though it had a distinct advantage as one of the most connected countries in the world, South Korea's model is being replicated widely.

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Why South Korea's coronavirus death toll is comparatively low

Nemo Kim Maheen Sadiq Marina Costa Nikhita Chulani

April 23, 2020 |

The Guardian |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: South Korea

South Korea took early and aggressive measures to mitigate the coronavirus pandemic, and the country has now been able to successfully declare that they've flattened the curve of reported cases. The combined strategy of widespread testing, contact tracing, government transparency, community willingness to self-isolate, and an economy already built for the delivery of goods, helped the country avoid a national lockdown all while still containing the virus.

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Want to end state lockdowns? Send in the coronavirus detectives.

Simon Montlake

April 21, 2020 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Massachusetts

As a method known as contact tracing, in which disease detectives track and monitor the interactions and movements of known infected people, has been hailed as a success in countries like South Korea, the United States has begun to employ the technique as it considers reopening parts of the economy. Relying heavily on widespread testing, contact tracing is already being used in Massachusetts, where an organization called Partners for Health trained 300 volunteers as contact tracers.

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South Korea Offers a Lesson in Best Practices

Victor Cha

April 21, 2020 |

Foreign Affairs |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: South Korea

South Korea's national government took quick action and implemented sweeping policy changes that have helped the country better control the spread of Covid-19. Contact tracing and democratizing the creation of testing supplies were two key aspects, but a major influencer was how quickly the country set these actions into motion by centralizing their approach.

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