Without a Trace: Is Technology the Next Stage in Contact Tracing’s Evolution?

Abstract

Contact tracing has become both a buzzword and a priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. Though it was deployed nationwide in the U.S., its success varied regionally. This special project thesis, in the form of a longform journalism article, traces the public health practice back to its roots to explore who contact tracers are, what they do, and what factors contributed to tracing’s limited success in 2020–21, centering around concepts of stigma and privacy. With this foundation, it assesses the promise and perils of incorporating technology into contact tracing during the COVID-19 pandemic.