Testing and Contact Tracing

Testing involves checking individuals for a specific disease, such as a virus, to determine if they are infected. This can involve taking samples, like a swab from the nose, which are then analyzed in a laboratory. Contact tracing is the process of identifying people who have been in close contact with an infected individual, to inform them and prevent further spread of the disease. Together, testing and contact tracing help contain outbreaks by ensuring that infected individuals are isolated and that contacts are monitored or tested, thus protecting public health and minimizing the spread of illness.