Contact tracing for coronavirus (COVID-19) may well be one of the most complex health investigations ever. Thanks to advances in modern technology, doctors now can perform complex procedures such as surgery using robots and lasers. However our best shot at tracking the path of a contagion such as the coronavirus still follows the same labour-intensive process as that used by Dr John Snow, one of the pioneers of epidemiology and public health.

From South Korea to the Isle of Man, contact tracing has successfully slowed, and even stopped, the spread of coronavirus. As Public Health England (PHE) and the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) prepare to launch their What Good Looks Like for Local Health Protection Systems initiative, we take a closer look at the capabilities and skills needed in epidemiology and surveillance, infection suppression and control techniques, contact tracing and evaluation to make this a success at a local level.

As parts of lockdown restrictions are lifted and businesses reopen, we will also review the success of the track and trace programmes currently in operation. We will be joined by Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) from the Isle of Man, Gwent and Jersey who will share their experiences, learnings along the way and a best practice approach to contact tracing.