About this Course

203,850 recent views

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. 
In this introductory course, students will learn about the science of SARS-CoV-2 , including the infectious period, the clinical presentation of COVID-19, and the evidence for how SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted from person-to-person and why contact tracing can be such an effective public health intervention. Students will learn about how contact tracing is done, including how to build rapport with cases, identify their contacts, and support both cases and their contacts to stop transmission in their communities. The course will also cover several important ethical considerations around contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine. Finally, the course will identify some of the most common barriers to contact tracing efforts -- along with strategies to overcome them.

Learner Career Outcomes

12%

started a new career after completing these courses

21%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 6 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

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

Ethics
Active Listening
Public Health
Contact Tracing
Epidemiology

Learner Career Outcomes

12%

started a new career after completing these courses

21%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 6 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.83/5 (43,936 Ratings)

Emily Gurley, PhD, MPH

Professor of the Practice

Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

1,531,754 Learners

7 Courses

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(417,600 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

1 hour to complete

Basics of COVID-19

1 hour to complete

7 videos (Total 51 min), 4 readings, 7 quizzes

7 videos

SARS-CoV-2 Virus4mNatural History of SARS-CoV-215mRisk Factors for Severe Disease5mDiagnosing COVID-195mTransmission of SARS-CoV-28mWhy Stopping Transmission is So Important9mSummary of COVID-192m

4 readings

A Note on Updates in this CourseCourse Resources and Technical Support1mGlossary of terms1mAssignments1m

7 practice exercises

SARS-CoV-2 virus (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1mNatural history of SARS-CoV-2 (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)2mRisk factors for severe disease (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1mDiagnosing COVID-19 (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1mTransmission of SARS-CoV-2 (Unlimited Attempts Permitted) 1mWhy Stopping Transmission is So Important (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1mProvide Your Feedback on this Module (Required)1m

1 hour to complete

Basics of Contact Tracing for COVID-19

1 hour to complete

5 videos (Total 35 min), 1 reading, 5 quizzes

5 videos

Contact Tracing for COVID-19 Prevention6mDefining Case, Contact, Isolation, and Quarantine6mCalculating Isolation and Quarantine Duration7mIdentifying High-Risk Situations13mSummary1m

1 reading

CDC Guidance and the COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine Calculator2m

5 practice exercises

Contact Tracing for COVID-19 Prevention (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1mDefining Case, Contact, Isolation and Quarantine (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1mCalculating Isolation and Quarantine Duration (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)3mIdentifying High-Risk Situations (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1mProvide Your Feedback on this Module (Required)1m

1 hour to complete

Steps to Investigate Cases and Trace Their Contacts

1 hour to complete

3 videos (Total 45 min), 1 reading, 2 quizzes

1 hour to complete

Ethics of Contact Tracing and Technological Tools

1 hour to complete

6 videos (Total 42 min)

6 videos

Contact Tracing as a Common Public Health Tool2mDefining Privacy, Confidentiality, and Other Terms about Ethics7mBalancing Public Good with Privacy, Autonomy, and Confidentiality10mRationale for Using Technology for Contact Tracing2mExamples of Technology Used for Each Step17mSummary1m

6 practice exercises

Contact Tracing as a Common Public Health Tool (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1mDefining Privacy, Confidentiality, and Other Terms about Ethics (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1mBalancing Public Good with Privacy, Autonomy, and Confidentiality (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1mRationale for Using Technology for Contact Tracing (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1mExamples of Technology Used for Each Step (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1mProvide Your Feedback on this Module (Required)1m

1 hour to complete

Skills for Effective Communication

1 hour to complete

11 videos (Total 78 min)

11 videos

The Importance of Rapport3mTips for Effective Communication11mQuestion Types and When to Use Them8mActive Listening: Helping People Feel Heard7mBringing It All Together into One Communication Framework7mCommon Issues and Tips5mEmbracing Complexity2mAddressing Process Complexities16mAddressing People Complexities7mAddressing Context Complexities3mSummary2m

7 practice exercises

The Importance of Rapport (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1mTips for Effective Communication (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1mQuestion Types and When to Use Them (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1mActive Listening: Helping People Feel Heard (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1mBringing It All Together into One Communication Framework (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1mCommon Issues and Tips (Unlimited Attempts Permitted)1mProvide Your Feedback on this Module (Required)1m

1 hour to complete

Final Assessment (Graded)

1 hour to complete

2 readings

Reviews

4.9

27527 reviews

5 stars
88.77%
4 stars
9.55%
3 stars
1.14%
2 stars
0.19%
1 star
0.33%

TOP REVIEWS FROM COVID-19 CONTACT TRACING

by MSMay 21, 2020

Thank you for this very informative course. I learnt a lot regarding contact tracing, and I am sure I will be able to use this information to help volunteering for COVID-19 Contact Tracing in my city.

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 JCMay 25, 2020

This course was amazing and very informative. I, now, have clear and concise knowledge about being an effective Contact Tracer, and I'm looking forward to putting my newly-attained skills to the test.

by RAMay 29, 2021

This class was awesome! I learned so... much and the Professor is excellent , clear and decisive very insightful.I appreciate taking this class her helping me have a greater understanding of Covid-19.

View all reviews

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. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
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.

COVID-19 Contact Tracing