The COVID-19 crisis has created an unprecedented need for contact tracing across the country, requiring thousands of people to learn key skills quickly. The job qualifications for contact tracing positions differ throughout the country and the world, with some new positions open to individuals with a high school diploma or equivalent.
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COVID-19 Contact Tracing
Johns Hopkins UniversityAbout this Course
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Shareable Certificate
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Flexible deadlines
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Beginner Level
Approx. 7 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: Arabic, Portuguese (Brazilian), English, Spanish, Nepali
What you will learn
Describe the natural history of SARS-CoV-2 , including the infectious period, the presentation of COVID-19, and evidence for how it is transmitted.
Define an infectious contact and timeline for public health intervention through contact tracing.
Demonstrate the utility of case investigation and contact tracing, identify common barriers, and possible strategies to overcome them.
Present some ethical considerations around contact tracing, isolation and quarantine.
Skills you will gain
EthicsActive ListeningPublic HealthContact TracingEpidemiology
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Beginner Level
Approx. 7 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: Arabic, Portuguese (Brazilian), English, Spanish, Nepali
Offered by
Johns Hopkins University
The mission of The Johns Hopkins University is to educate its students and cultivate their capacity for life-long learning, to foster independent and original research, and to bring the benefits of discovery to the world.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
1 hour to complete
Basics of COVID-19
In this first module, we'll dig into the science of COVID-19, including what we know about its origins, clinical signs and symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, transmission, and infectious period.
1 hour to complete
7 videos (Total 51 min), 3 readings, 7 quizzes
7 videos
Natural History of SARS-CoV-215m
Risk Factors for Severe Disease5m
Diagnosing COVID-195m
Transmission of SARS-CoV-28m
Why Stopping Transmission is So Important9m
Summary of COVID-192m
3 readings
Course Resources and Technical Support1m
Glossary of terms1m
Assignments1m
7 practice exercises
SARS-CoV-2 virus (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1m
Natural history of SARS-CoV-2 (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)2m
Risk factors for severe disease (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1m
Diagnosing COVID-19 (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1m
Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (Unlimited Attempts Permitted) 1m
Why Stopping Transmission is So Important (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1m
Provide Your Feedback on this Module (Required)1m
1 hour to complete
Basics of Contact Tracing for COVID-19
Now that you've learned about the basics of COVID-19, we'll turn our attention to some of the tools being used to stop the spread: contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine. We'll also show you how what you've already learned about infection and transmission informs the use of these critical public health tools.
1 hour to complete
5 videos (Total 35 min), 1 reading, 5 quizzes
5 videos
Defining Case, Contact, Isolation, and Quarantine6m
Calculating Isolation and Quarantine Duration7m
Identifying High-Risk Situations13m
Summary1m
1 reading
CDC Guidance and the COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine Calculator10m
5 practice exercises
Contact Tracing for COVID-19 Prevention (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1m
Defining Case, Contact, Isolation and Quarantine (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1m
Calculating Isolation and Quarantine Duration (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)3m
Identifying High-Risk Situations (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1m
Provide Your Feedback on this Module (Required)1m
1 hour to complete
Steps to Investigate Cases and Trace Their Contacts
In this module, we'll walk through the steps of the contact tracing process and provide examples. You'll also get to watch demonstrations of basic interactions with a case and and a contact.
1 hour to complete
3 videos (Total 45 min), 1 reading, 2 quizzes
1 reading
Checklists for speaking to cases and contacts5m
2 practice exercises
The Basic Steps (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)3m
Provide Your Feedback on this Module (Required)1m
1 hour to complete
Ethics of Contact Tracing and Technological Tools
In this module, you'll learn about the important ethical dimensions of contract tracing, including how we balance the protection of the public's health with limits on personal privacy and autonomy. We'll walk through some specific examples to prepare you for some of the issues contact tracers encounter during the course of their work.
1 hour to complete
6 videos (Total 42 min)
6 videos
Defining Privacy, Confidentiality, and Other Terms about Ethics7m
Balancing Public Good with Privacy, Autonomy, and Confidentiality10m
Rationale for Using Technology for Contact Tracing2m
Examples of Technology Used for Each Step17m
Summary1m
6 practice exercises
Contact Tracing as a Common Public Health Tool (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1m
Defining Privacy, Confidentiality, and Other Terms about Ethics (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1m
Balancing Public Good with Privacy, Autonomy, and Confidentiality (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1m
Rationale for Using Technology for Contact Tracing (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1m
Examples of Technology Used for Each Step (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1m
Provide Your Feedback on this Module (Required)1m
1 hour to complete
Skills for Effective Communication
Effective communication is the cornerstone of a successful contact tracing interaction. That includes building rapport with cases and contacts, active listening, and asking the right kinds of questions. In this module, you'll watch and read several example interactions that demonstrate both how and how not to conduct yourself as a contact tracer.
1 hour to complete
11 videos (Total 78 min)
11 videos
Tips for Effective Communication11m
Question Types and When to Use Them8m
Active Listening: Helping People Feel Heard7m
Bringing It All Together into One Communication Framework7m
Common Issues and Tips5m
Embracing Complexity2m
Addressing Process Complexities16m
Addressing People Complexities7m
Addressing Context Complexities3m
Summary2m
7 practice exercises
The Importance of Rapport (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1m
Tips for Effective Communication (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1m
Question Types and When to Use Them (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1m
Active Listening: Helping People Feel Heard (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1m
Bringing It All Together into One Communication Framework (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1m
Common Issues and Tips (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1m
Provide Your Feedback on this Module (Required)1m
1 hour to complete
Final Assessment (Graded)
1 hour to complete
2 readings
2 readings
Final Assessment Instructions (Read Carefully BEFORE Final Assessment)1m
COVID-19 Daily Roundup1m
1 practice exercise
Final Assessment1h 20m
Reviews
TOP REVIEWS FROM COVID-19 CONTACT TRACING
by YCJul 2, 2020
Wonderful course was so very impressed learned a lot I would be delighted to be employed as a tracker and if not the information provided the material discussed was a benefit to my knowledge thank you
by BKJun 17, 2020
Excellent course with a lot of valuable information. the information was provided at a pace that was easy to follow and beneficial for seasoned and unseasoned public/occupational health professionals.
by ISAug 19, 2020
The professor gives a very clear description of the role contract tracers play. In addition, the example videos they provide with the within-lecture questions helped keep me active during the lecture.
by DJJul 1, 2020
This course enlightened my understanding of COVID-19 and contact tracing. It is well written, very clear regarding the training/information and a bonus for the helping the community and professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
- The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
- The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You’ll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. Learn more.
What does this course cover?
This course provides information about the basics of COVID-19 and contact tracing and helps you develop some of the skills and background that you need. The course includes examples of contact tracing calls, as well as information about developing effective interviewing skills.
How can I enroll for free?
Visit https://www.coursera.org/promo/covid-19-contact-tracing to enroll in this course for free. The promotional price will be applied to your purchase automatically.
You will need to enroll via a web browser on either a computer or a mobile device and not via the Coursera mobile app to enroll for the course and certificate for free. Unfortunately, the promotional price is not redeemable through the mobile app.
Is this course all the training that a contact tracer will need?
No. If you join a contact tracing initiative in a state or local health department, you'll need additional training and ongoing support to learn the local processes and systems as well as other issues that may arise.
How do I apply to become a Contact Tracer?
Different cities, counties, states, and countries have different plans and processes for hiring contact tracers. Please consult your public health department to learn about its requirements.
For example, information for New York State can be found here: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/GetInvolved. Note that the New York State Contact Tracing Initiative wants people to apply for a position first before taking the course.
How quickly do I need to complete the course to be hired as a contact tracer?
If you have already applied to be part of a contact tracing initiative and have been directed to this course for training, please consult the information you've received directly from that initiative for information about expectations on timing.
Can I do contact tracing on my own once I pass this course?
No, contact tracing should only be performed as part of a coordinated initiative led by the appropriate public health authorities.
Is this course a good place to get medical advice?
No, this course is not a source of personal medical advice. Please contact your doctor or local healthcare provider if you have questions about your specific symptoms or circumstances.
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
