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Contact tracing reveals community transmission of COVID-19 in New York City

Author

Listed:
  • Sen Pei

    (Columbia University)

  • Sasikiran Kandula

    (Columbia University)

  • Jaime Cascante Vega

    (Columbia University)

  • Wan Yang

    (Columbia University)

  • Steffen Foerster

    (New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH))

  • Corinne Thompson

    (New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH))

  • Jennifer Baumgartner

    (New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH))

  • Shama Desai Ahuja

    (Columbia University
    New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH))

  • Kathleen Blaney

    (New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH))

  • Jay K. Varma

    (Weill Cornell Medical College)

  • Theodore Long

    (NYC Health + Hospitals)

  • Jeffrey Shaman

    (Columbia University
    Columbia University)

Abstract

Understanding SARS-CoV-2 transmission within and among communities is critical for tailoring public health policies to local context. However, analysis of community transmission is challenging due to a lack of high-resolution surveillance and testing data. Here, using contact tracing records for 644,029 cases and their contacts in New York City during the second pandemic wave, we provide a detailed characterization of the operational performance of contact tracing and reconstruct exposure and transmission networks at individual and ZIP code scales. We find considerable heterogeneity in reported close contacts and secondary infections and evidence of extensive transmission across ZIP code areas. Our analysis reveals the spatial pattern of SARS-CoV-2 spread and communities that are tightly interconnected by exposure and transmission. We find that locations with higher vaccination coverage and lower numbers of visitors to points-of-interest had reduced within- and cross-ZIP code transmission events, highlighting potential measures for curtailing SARS-CoV-2 spread in urban settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Sen Pei & Sasikiran Kandula & Jaime Cascante Vega & Wan Yang & Steffen Foerster & Corinne Thompson & Jennifer Baumgartner & Shama Desai Ahuja & Kathleen Blaney & Jay K. Varma & Theodore Long & Jeffrey, 2022. "Contact tracing reveals community transmission of COVID-19 in New York City," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-34130-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34130-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sen Pei & Teresa K. Yamana & Sasikiran Kandula & Marta Galanti & Jeffrey Shaman, 2021. "Burden and characteristics of COVID-19 in the United States during 2020," Nature, Nature, vol. 598(7880), pages 338-341, October.
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    3. Shixiong Hu & Wei Wang & Yan Wang & Maria Litvinova & Kaiwei Luo & Lingshuang Ren & Qianlai Sun & Xinghui Chen & Ge Zeng & Jing Li & Lu Liang & Zhihong Deng & Wen Zheng & Mei Li & Hao Yang & Jinxin Gu, 2021. "Infectivity, susceptibility, and risk factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 transmission under intensive contact tracing in Hunan, China," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Serina Chang & Emma Pierson & Pang Wei Koh & Jaline Gerardin & Beth Redbird & David Grusky & Jure Leskovec, 2021. "Mobility network models of COVID-19 explain inequities and inform reopening," Nature, Nature, vol. 589(7840), pages 82-87, January.
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