Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: Strengthening the component of contact tracing for the containment of infection

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which was initially reported in the form of a cluster of pneumonia cases in the Wuhan city of China has raised serious concerns about the outbreak readiness across the world, including in the developed nations with the best quality health care delivery system. The initial facts depict that the primary mode of disease transmission is airborne, there is an indispensable need to revisit the infection control practices. Apart from the various strategies which have been proposed to strengthen the level of preparedness of a nation and also to contain the infection, contact tracing is an essential and integral component. The contacts should be advised to monitor their health for at least a period of 14 days after the last day of potential contact. In conclusion, contact tracing is a standard infection control strategy and is an important aspect in the interruption of the disease transmission in the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. The need of the hour is to strengthen the same to ensure early detection of the COVID-19 suspects and interrupt the transmission of the disease.