Contact Tracing Different Age Groups During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Retrospective Study From South-West Germany

Abstract

Background: Contact tracing was used in many countries during the initial waves of the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent disease spread, reduce mortality and avoid the overburdening of health care systems. In many countries, including Germany, entirely new systems were employed to trace and quarantine potentially infected persons.Objective: Using data collected in the Rhine-Neckar district and Heidelberg city (RNK/HD) in south-west Germany (population 706 974), this study examines differences and the overall effectiveness and efficiency of contact tracing within different age groups and waves of the pandemic.