TALKING WITH THE PATIENT

A Case Investigator’s Guide for COVID-19

cdc.gov/coronavirus
CS-317377-A 06/08/2020 1445
 Contents
OVERVIEW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
INTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Intro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Verifying Identity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Reason for Call. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Confidentiality and Privacy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
COLLECTING PATIENT’S DEMOGRAPHIC AND LOCATING INFORMATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Intro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Demographic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Locating and Contact Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Emergency Contact. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
HEALTH INFORMATION AND ASSESSING DISEASE COMPREHENSION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Intro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Reason for Testing/Health Care Visit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Disease Comprehension. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Symptoms of COVID-19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Hospitalization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Recommendations on How to Manage Symptoms at Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Underlying Health Conditions and Other Risk Factors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Other Testing and Medical care. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
HEALTH MONITORING AND RESPONDING TO CHANGES IN HEALTH STATUS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Intro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Monitoring Agreements and Tools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Responding If Symptoms Get Worse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Medical Provider and Other Support While Sick.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
REVIEWING ISOLATION RECOMMENDATIONS AND RESOURCES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Intro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Assessing Concerns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

TALKING WITH THE PATIENT 2 A CASE INVESTIGATOR’S GUIDE FOR COVID-19

 Assessing Living Situation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Assessing Other Supports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Release from Isolation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Release from Isolation: Special Circumstances. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Disclosure Coaching. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
CONTACT ELICITATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Intro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Discussing Contact Elicitation Window. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Household Contacts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Workplace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
People, Places, Activities and Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
CONCLUSION.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Check-in, Questions and Agreements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Acknowledging the difficulty and keeping the door open for contact... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
APPENDIX A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Potential Contacts and Exposure Locations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
APPENDIX B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
COVID-19 Symptom Assessment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
APPENDIX C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Contact Elicitation Tool. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
APPENDIX D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Sample Open Ended Questions for Each Contact Elicited. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
APPENDIX E. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Elicitation of Exposure Sites and Settings (Physical Locations). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

TALKING WITH THE PATIENT 3 A CASE INVESTIGATOR’S GUIDE FOR COVID-19

 OVERVIEW
A successful case interview allows for the collection of critical information about a person (patient) diagnosed with
COVID-19 and potentially exposed contacts, while providing support, referrals, and answers to questions the patient
may have. The goals of the case interview are to assess the patient’s medical condition, gather information for
continued monitoring and support, and obtain the names and location information of their close contacts who may
have been exposed to COVID-19. Developing trust and a warm, empathetic rapport while maintaining a professional
relationship with the patient is key to providing the most effective support and collecting the most accurate
information to inform the next steps in the contact tracing investigation. The interview process should be more than
just checking off boxes on a case report form.

Principles for interactions with COVID-19 patients:

• Ensure and protect confidentiality. • Use culturally and linguistically
• Demonstrate ethical and professional conduct. appropriate language.
• Create a judgement-free zone. • Employ critical thinking and problem solving.
• Be open-minded (everyone has a unique story). • Be flexible with the interview format.
• Be attentive and respectful. • Adapt to address concerns and information that
• Be aware of your own biases (cultural humility). naturally arise during conversation.
• Establish open dialogue and pause often • Identify areas of need and link to
to listen. appropriate resources.
• Ask open-ended questions. • Don’t overstep or overpromise.
• Use reflective listening techniques. • Set the stage for ongoing communication and
support during isolation.
Note: Jurisdictions can find additional information by visiting the Principles of Case Investigation and Contact Tracing : Part
of a Multipronged Approach to Fight the COVID-19.

Language is important. It sets the stage to build rapport with patients and opens the door to honest dialogue. It
is critical to establish open communication with patients diagnosed with COVID-19 so that they feel comfortable
disclosing the names and location information of their close contacts. Open communication also helps them express
their needs in order to safely self-isolate and helps them feel comforable seeking help if their COVID-19 symptoms
worsen. If supportive statements and genuine concern are combined with active listening and open-ended
questions, powerful information can be gathered to interrupt the spread of the virus. Asking open-ended questions
prompts a dialogue and elicits more detailed information; often the information is helpful in learning more about the
person and their circumstances. Remember, each person is unique, and this is not intended as a script. The interviewer
should carefully listen to responses and add or subtract questions as appropriate.

The intent of this document is to provide suggested communication strategies for COVID-19 case interviews. Scripts
may need to be modified to address locality-specific needs, including but not limited to highlighting available
resources, cultural nuances, exposure sites, and the capture of epidemiological data. The information below provides
suggested language. Appendix A includes a table to assist case investigators in thinking about the various exposure
sites where patients may have interacted with close contacts. Interviewers should use what is helpful and the best
fit for the interaction; all questions or statements may not be required and additional probing questions may be
necessary. Programs are encouraged to share best practices in framing and phrases as they are identified.

TALKING WITH THE PATIENT 4 A CASE INVESTIGATOR’S GUIDE FOR COVID-19

 INTRODUCTION
Aims: Introduce yourself and establish credibility. Verify patient information, build rapport, address confidentiality.

INTRO
• May I speak with [respondent name]?
• Am I speaking with [respondent name]?
• Hello, this is [interviewer’s name], from <xxxx health department>, calling for {respondent name]. How are you today?
• [For minors] Who is your parent/guardian? How can I reach your parent/guardian?
• What language(s) do you feel most comfortable speaking?
• [If language barrier and interpreter available]: We can work with an interpreter (provide information on if that
person will be connected or if will need to call back).
• [If language barrier and team member who speaks the individual’s preferred language is available]: A team
member who speaks (language) will call you back.
• I am following up with you to discuss an important health matter. This call is private and intended to assist you
with this matter.
• Is now a good time to talk privately? If not, what time works best for you?
• If you are not available now, let’s schedule some time to talk about your recent test for COVID-19 /COVID-19
diagnosis. We want to check in on your health and make sure that you can get the referrals and resources you
may need, and answer questions that you may have.

VERIFYING IDENTITY
• It is important for me to ensure that I am speaking with the right person. What is your full name and date of birth,
please?
• Before we get started, I would like to make sure that the information we received is correct. Please spell your full
name. And what name do you go by/what do people call you? What would you like me to call you?

REASON FOR CALL

• The health department received a report that you may have been tested/diagnosed with COVID-19. We follow up
with people with COVID-19 to make sure that they have the information they need to keep themselves and their
family safe. We also reach out to their close contacts to notify them of exposure so that they can get tested and
quarantine to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
• I am calling as a follow-up from your recent medical appointment (or test) for COVID-19. I want to check in with
you regarding your diagnosis/test result(s) and see how we can support you and stop the spread of the virus.
• I would like to review some important questions with you so we can provide you with support and work together
to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our city/county/town.

TALKING WITH THE PATIENT 5 A CASE INVESTIGATOR’S GUIDE FOR COVID-19

CONFIDENTIALITY AND PRIVACY
• Before we go into detail, I want to be sure you understand that everything we discuss is confidential. This means
that your personal and medical information will be kept private and only shared with those who may need
to know, like your health care provider [NOTE: Please consult local data sharing policies between health care
providers and health department.]
• What questions do you have about your privacy/confidentiality?

OTHER
• What questions can I answer for you before we start?

COLLECTING PATIENT’S DEMOGRAPHIC AND LOCATING INFORMATION

Aims: Verify patient demographic and locating information; Establish the best way to reach the patient; Obtain
information on who resides with patient and emergency and alternate contact numbers.

INTRO
• If it’s OK with you, I’d like to start with a few questions to make sure that the information that we have is correct
and also find out the best way to contact you.

DEMOGRAPHIC
• I know that I already confirmed your name. Are there any other names that you go by or that your medical
information may be under (e.g., maiden name)?
• What is your gender?
• What is your race?
• What is your ethnicity? Are you of Hispanic origin?
• Do you have a tribal affiliation? If so, which tribe?
• [For women] Are you currently pregnant? (If yes) how far along are you (months, weeks)?
• What is your [any other locally specific socio-demographic information]?

LOCATING AND CONTACT INFORMATION

• Where do you live (or stay)? What is your address?
• Where else may have you lived (or stayed) during the past month?
• [If person indicates that they ‘live on the street’ or are homeless] If you don’t have a regular place that you stay,
where is it best to find you? (probe for cross streets, site description, name of building/shelter, where they
receive mail, etc.)

TALKING WITH THE PATIENT 6 A CASE INVESTIGATOR’S GUIDE FOR COVID-19

 • Who else lives with you? (Who else stays at that address?)
• How many people regularly stay at that address?
• What is your cell phone number? Who else might answer that phone?
• What is the best number for me to reach you? Who else might answer that number?
• What is the best time to contact you?
• What is the best number to reach you?
• What other ways do you like to communicate? (e.g., email, app)

WORK
• What do you do for work (name, location(s), hours)?
• Where do you work (name, location(s), hours)?
• Where else do you work (name, location, hours)?
• What other things do you do to earn money besides the job you just described?
• When was the last time you were at work?
• Where you feeling sick when you were there?
• How does your workplace protect people from COVID-19 (e.g. providing masks for employees, establishing social
distancing space with markers for employees/customers, “screening” for temperature and symptoms upon entry,
putting up clear plastic dividers between employees or employees and customers, providing hand sanitizer,
signs about COVID-19 and how to prevent it, increased cleaning and disinfection)?
• Some work roles (i.e., health care workers, first responders and critical infrastructure workers) and workplaces
such as congregate living settings (e.g., long term nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, group homes, mental
health hospitals, correctional facilities, homeless shelters) or workplaces with large work areas (e.g., factories,
food processing plants) have special requirements regarding COVID-19. Does your role at your work or work
setting fall into any of those categories? If so, we can discuss in more detail about what this means after we talk
about your health and what support you may need.

EMERGENCY CONTACT
• In case of an emergency, if I could not reach you, who would I call? What is their number? What is that person’s
relation to you?

TALKING WITH THE PATIENT 7 A CASE INVESTIGATOR’S GUIDE FOR COVID-19

 HEALTH INFORMATION AND ASSESSING DISEASE COMPREHENSION
Aims: Disclose positive test result or verify knowledge of COVID-19 diagnosis; Gain insight regarding patient’s
knowledge of COVID-19; Provide disease-specific information and guidance for how to manage symptoms;
Assess COVID-19 symptoms, onset, and duration in order to develop a baseline for medical monitoring and
contact elicitation window; Assess underlying health conditions that patient may have which place them at
higher risk for disease complications.

INTRO
• I’d like to talk about your recent test at <testing provider>. Have you heard back about the results?
• [If patient has NOT been notified of test result] Your test came back positive for severe acute respiratory
syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). I’d like to talk to you
about what this means so that we can work together to keep you as healthy as possible and prevent the spread
of the virus. How does that sound?
• [If patient HAS been notified of test result/diagnosis] I’d like to talk about your positive test for severe acute
respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) OR (your
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) diagnosis---if symptomatic diagnosis without testing) so that we can work
together to keep you as healthy as possible and prevent the spread of the virus. How does that sound?
• There are some things that you can do to manage your symptoms at home. I would like to take a few minutes to
talk with you about the virus, find out your symptoms, and discuss how we can support you during this time. I
can also answer questions you have about your illness.

REASON FOR TESTING/HEALTH CARE VISIT

• Tell me about why you first went to be tested for COVID-19? What were the results? Have you been tested again
since that time? What were those the results?
• Tell me about why you went to [insert specific health care provider] and your diagnosis at your visit?

DISEASE COMPREHENSION
• Tell me your understanding of being diagnosed with COVID-19. What does that mean to you?
• What did your health care provider or the testing center tell you about COVID-19?
• What have you heard about COVID-19 (e.g., online, in the news, from friends, family, or coworkers)
• There is a lot of information out there about COVID-19, and sometimes it is hard to know what is fact and what is
myth. What questions do you have for me about the virus?
• Some basic facts about COVID-19 [Note: Recommend both covering this information verbally and providing a
handout via email, hardcopy] are:
◦ What You Should Know About COVID-19
◦ Share the Facts about COVID-19

TALKING WITH THE PATIENT 8 A CASE INVESTIGATOR’S GUIDE FOR COVID-19

SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19
• COVID-19 can cause a variety of symptoms. Some COVID-19 symptoms can seem like a common cold and
others are more severe and sometimes people have no symptoms. Please let me know if you have had any of
the following symptoms and when they started (See Appendix B for a table of COVID-19 symptoms, with space
to indicate onset and duration. This Information can help to identify patients who will need to be referred for
medical evaluation due to current symptom presentation).
• What symptoms were you having? When did those symptoms start?
• [If patient states any of the emergency warning signs (e.g., trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the
chest, new confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, or bluish lips or face) refer them for emergency medical
attention immediately!]
• If you call 911 or go to the emergency room, tell them that you have COVID-19 and also wear a cloth face
covering when an ambulance comes to get you or if you visit a medical provider.
• How are you feeling now?

HOSPITALIZATION
• Did your symptoms require you to go to the hospital? Emergency Room? Hospital admission? Intensive Care Unit
(ICU)? When? How long were you in the hospital?
• What other conditions or complications did they identify at the hospital? Please let me know if any of the
following apply: flu, bronchitis, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, low oxygen in the blood, sepsis, stroke,
heart attack, kidney failure, etc.
• Was there a need for you to be on a ventilator during your hospital stay? How long were you on the on a
ventilator?
• How are you feeling since your hospital discharge?
• Do you have a scheduled follow up with your health care provider? Or are you in communication with them?

RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO MANAGE SYMPTOMS AT HOME

• What kind of information did they give you to help with your symptoms while you are at home?
• We have some useful tips that may help with managing your symptoms [Note: Recommend both covering this
information verbally and providing a handout via email, hardcopy]:
◦ 10 things you can do to manage your COVID-19 symptoms at home
» Chinese » Korean » Spanish » Vietnamese
◦ What to do if you are sick
» Amharic » French » Russian » Swahili
» Arabic » Haitian » Simplified » Tigryna
» Burmese » Creole » Chinese » Ukrainian
» Dari » Nepali » Somali » Vietnamese
» Farsi » Pashto » Spanish
◦ Caring for yourself at home
» English » Chinese » Korean
» Spanish » Vietnamese

TALKING WITH THE PATIENT 9 A CASE INVESTIGATOR’S GUIDE FOR COVID-19

UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS AND OTHER RISK FACTORS
• Some other health conditions may affect how COVID-19 affects the body. Sometimes we may need to do extra
monitoring for people who have other health conditions to be sure that we can get them help if they need it.
Have you ever been diagnosed by your health care provider with any of the following (Please say yes if you have
any of the following conditions):
◦ Chronic lung disease?
◦ Moderate to severe asthma?
◦ Heart conditions (list the type of heart condition)?
◦ A health condition that affects your immune system? This can be due to any number of things like
» cancer treatment
» bone marrow or organ transplantation
» immune deficiencies
» HIV or AIDS
» prolonged use of corticosteroids and other medications that can weaken the immune system
◦ Obesity?
◦ Diabetes?
◦ Chronic kidney disease? If so, are you undergoing dialysis?
◦ Chronic liver disease?
◦ Other health condition?
• Some other health conditions may affect how COVID-19 affects the body. Tell me about other health conditions
you may have. (If the local health department is collecting data on specific co-morbidities, you may ask about
those specific health conditions after asking this question.)
• What medications do you take for this/these conditions?
• What medications have you taken recently, either prescribed or over the counter? When did you start them? How
long have you taken them?
• Other activities can increase the risk for complications from COVID-19, including smoking. Do you smoke? When
is the last time that you smoked? Vaped?

OTHER TESTING AND MEDICAL CARE

• Tell me about any other medical care visits you may have had (where, when, why, were you hospitalized? If so, for
how long?).
• What other tests have you had [besides the COVID-19 tests discussed earlier]? Where? When? What were the
results?

OTHER
• What worries or concerns do you have that you would like to discuss? Who have you told about your COVID-19
diagnosis?
• What questions do you have for me at this time about COVID-19?

TALKING WITH THE PATIENT 10 A CASE INVESTIGATOR’S GUIDE FOR COVID-19

 HEALTH MONITORING AND RESPONDING TO CHANGES IN HEALTH STATUS
Aims: Cooperatively establish a plan to monitor health status daily; Discuss importance of daily monitoring and
develop a clear plan to access medical services should the need arise.

INTRO
• I’d like to talk with you about setting up a plan for you to monitor your health each day so that we can get you
help if you need it. Shall we continue?
• We would like to work with you to set up daily check-ins so that we can make sure that you are okay. This way if
your symptoms get worse or you develop new symptoms, we can work together to get you medical care, if you
need it.
• Let’s talk about setting up daily check-ins in order to monitor your health, by taking your temperature every
day and keeping track of how you feel. There are a few things that we can provide to help you monitor your
symptoms.

MONITORING AGREEMENTS AND TOOLS

• Some of the more basic items to help you monitor your symptoms and reduce the chance that others in your
house get COVID-19 include a washable cloth face covering, gloves, thermometer, 60% alcohol-based hand
sanitizer, soap, and EPA-registered household disinfectant.
• We have <name of local monitoring system> set up to help with communication for daily check-ins. Let’s get
you registered for that system. We encourage you to register for [email/test messaging/other automated system]
which is quick, private, and allows you to provide your information on a schedule that works for you (rather than
getting calls from us).
• What would work best for you? Would you prefer to Facetime, Skype, talk on the phone, text, or email? What time
of day is best? How about xx time each day. Would that work for you? What is the best number or email address
we can use to communicate with you each day?
• What do you understand about the monitoring by [mechanism] that you are being asked to do during this time?
What challenges do you foresee with this plan?

RESPONDING IF SYMPTOMS GET WORSE

• Sometimes people with COVID-19 can have complications. You will need to be aware of what is happening with
your body so that you can tell if you have any emergency warning signs (including trouble breathing, persistent
pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, trouble speaking, trouble swallowing, impaired coordination,
inability to wake or stay awake, or bluish lips or face, or numbness/paralysis on the face/arm/leg). If you have
any of these or any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you, please call your medical provider or go
to the emergency room (ER) right away. Don’t wait for your daily check-in. If you call 911 or go to the emergency
room, tell them that you have COVID-19 and also wear a cloth face covering when an ambulance comes to get
you or if you visit a medical provider.
• What is your plan if you develop new symptoms or start to feel sicker?

TALKING WITH THE PATIENT 11 A CASE INVESTIGATOR’S GUIDE FOR COVID-19

 • Who do you feel comfortable reaching out to if you feel like your symptoms are getting worse?
• How would you get to the emergency room if needed?

MEDICAL PROVIDER AND OTHER SUPPORT WHILE SICK

• Where do you usually go when you are sick?
• Who is your primary medical care provider? What medical appointments/procedures do you have coming up?
How comfortable do you feel communicating with them about your symptoms?
• Who usually helps take care of you when you are sick? Have you told them about your COVID-19 diagnosis?

OTHER
• This was a lot of information. What questions did this raise for you about COVID-19?

REVIEWING ISOLATION RECOMMENDATIONS AND RESOURCES

Aims: Discuss parameters and importance of isolation recommendations; Assess patient’s concerns and resources
to enable safe and healthy isolation; Cooperatively identify potential areas for support and referral.

INTRO
• Now I’d like to talk with you about home isolation, review the recommendations, and identify what you may
need to support you and keep you and your family and other household members healthy. How does that
sound?
• Let’s discuss how you can prevent spreading the virus to others. What has your health care provider told you
about how you can keep from spreading the virus to your family and other people? What have they told you
about home isolation?
• Since the main way that COVID-19 is spread is through breathing in droplets of the virus through the air, it will
be important to keep your family and other household members safe. This will mean that you will have to stay
at home, in a separate part of the house from others who live with you, preferably in a bedroom by yourself, and
use your own bathroom that no one else uses during this time. Let’s talk about what this looks like for you.
• Being in isolation means that you will not be able to go to work or the grocery store or other places around town.
• During self-isolation at home, you will need to limit your interactions with people in your household: staying 6
feet away from them.
• When interacting with others in your household, you should wear a cloth face covering, over your nose and
mouth. Your caregiver may also wear a cloth face covering when caring for you. Children under age 2, or anyone
who has trouble breathing, should not wear a mask. Regularly wash your hands and follow other measures
outlined in the CDC guidance. [NOTE: case investigator should verbally review updated CDC guidance with the
patient during the interview and send information in a link, or handout afterward]

TALKING WITH THE PATIENT 12 A CASE INVESTIGATOR’S GUIDE FOR COVID-19

 • If at all possible, stay in your room and have food, other necessities and recreational items left outside the door,
to minimize your contact with others. We will talk more in a few minutes about whether you have someone at
home who can do these things and if you need more help.
• COVID-19 can also be transmitted on surfaces. There are a number of things you can do to protect your family
and other household members: Like wiping down shared spaces with appropriate cleaning products, keeping a
separate set of dishes, silverware and glasses available for your use. I will send you information on how to clean
and disinfect your home (for those sharing space with others). It will be important to identify other people who
can help you with daily life activities during self-isolation. You will need to stay at home and therefore you will
need others to support you with grocery shopping, picking up medications, and caring for children, or family
members who you otherwise would be caring for while you are sick.
• For reference, this paragraph should read as such: If you have pets, you should remain separate from them during
self-isolation, just as you would with other household members, and avoid direct contact, including petting,
snuggling, being kissed or licked, sleeping in the same location, and sharing food or bedding. If possible, another
person in your household should take care of the pets and should follow standard handwashing practices before
and after interacting with the household animal. If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are
sick, wear a cloth face covering and wash your hands before and after you interact with them. [Note: Please share
CDC link and any local information regarding management of interactions with pets.]
• In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, service animals are permitted to remain with their handlers.

ASSESSING CONCERNS
• What would home isolation look like for you?
• What concerns do you have about the situation that I just described?
• Does this sound like something that would be hard or easy for you? Why? What could you do or what support
would you need to address the hardest parts?
• What would be helpful for you to better understand or remember the instructions about home isolation?

ASSESSING LIVING SITUATION

• It may be helpful to talk about what kind of support you might need during self-isolation.
• Let me just doublecheck the address where you are staying. (confirm address).
• What does your living situation look like? [Probe for type of living environment: single flat, apartment, house,
group home, treatment facility, single room only hotel, condo, tent encampment, etc.] How many rooms,
bedrooms, bathrooms? Are there shared common areas (e.g., kitchen/dining room/living room/laundry/
elevator)?
• Tell me about the place where you live (prompts: house? Apartment?). Who lives there with you? What are their
names/ages? (make a list, see Appendix C)
• Who else stays there from time to time? When was the last time they were there? What are their names/ages?
• How many children do you have? What are their ages? Where do they live? When was the last time you saw them?
• What other children (under 18) are in the home? Who are their parents/guardians?
• What is your living situation? Who else lives with you? What are their names, ages and relationships to you?

TALKING WITH THE PATIENT 13 A CASE INVESTIGATOR’S GUIDE FOR COVID-19

 • Does anyone in your household have other medical conditions, like the ones we reviewed earlier? If so, who and
what medical conditions do they have that concern you?
• Would it be possible for you to have access to your own room and bathroom?
• How safe do you feel in your current living situation? Have you ever felt threatened, been hit or hurt by someone
who you live with? [If patient feels unsafe or answers yes to the second question] We have resources to support
you <make domestic violence referral---insert local information>
• Is there an alternate place that you could stay?
• Would you consider moving to an offsite location to support you and protect your family/household during your
isolation? If this were an option, what would be your concerns?

ASSESSING OTHER SUPPORTS

• When you think about what I have just described, what comes to mind? What challenges do you see? What kind
of support would you need to overcome them?
• What challenges do you foresee with maintaining your health and your household during isolation?
• What do you think will be the hardest thing about isolation? How will you deal with that?
• Do you have access to fresh water and enough food?
• How will you prepare your own food? Who can assist you with getting meals?
• How will you get other household supplies (e.g., toilet paper, soap, etc.)?
• What medications will you need to take? How long until your prescription needs to be refilled?
• Who do you provide care for in your household? Children? Parents? Older person? Sick person? Is there someone
else who can take on that role?
• What pets or animals do you have in your household? What kind of supplies will you need for them during your
isolation? Is there anyone else who can take care of your pets or animals?
• Who can assist you with support (e.g., getting meals and other household supplies) during home isolation?
• What will you do to get food and other essential items without leaving your house?
• You may be off from work during home isolation or may be able to telework if that is a policy at your workplace
and you feel healthy enough to continue working. How will you approach this discussion with your employer?
Will you be getting paid sick leave from your employer?
• What concerns do you have about the financial impact that home isolation will have?
• What concerns do you have about how home isolation will affect your health and well-being? What do you think
you can do or what support do you need to make a positive impact on your health and well-being?
• How do you think that you staying separate from them will impact your family? How do you think you will deal
with that?
• What assistance would be helpful for you?
• What would support look like for you during this time?
• There are support services available to assist you and your family with some of these tasks. Let’s talk about which
ones may be helpful to you.

TALKING WITH THE PATIENT 14 A CASE INVESTIGATOR’S GUIDE FOR COVID-19

 • What types of medical or other important appointments do you have scheduled over the upcoming weeks? Let’s
see how we can work to support you with those appointments.
• What other supports might you need during your isolation [or period]? [Note: Jurisdictions can adapt the
Self-Isolation and Self-Quarantine Home Assessment Checklist to evaluate individuals’ ability to safely isolate or
quarantine in their homes.]:
◦ Food ◦ Translation/interpretation
◦ Childcare ◦ Assistance caring for someone else
◦ Housing ◦ Transportation
◦ Prescriptions ◦ Disability accommodations
◦ Non-COVID medical care ◦ Financial assistance
◦ Support with stress, resiliency, mental health ◦ Communication (cell service, internet)
◦ Substance use treatment/support groups ◦ Other

RELEASE FROM ISOLATION

• The amount of time that you will be on home isolation depends upon your signs and symptoms and might also
depend on test results. Your health care provider will be talking with you to determine when you can be released
from home isolation.

RELEASE FROM ISOLATION: SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

• The amount of time that you will be on home isolation depends upon your signs and symptoms and might
also depend on test results. [Note: Jurisdictions can find additional information on the discontinuation of self-
isolation in CDC’s Contact Tracing Guidance.] Your health care provider will be talking with you to determine
when you can be released from home isolation.

DISCLOSURE COACHING
• Given that there will need to be a plan for social distancing and also supports set in place to assist you while you
are on home isolation, it will be important to think about how to talk about this with those in your household.
• Who in the household have you told about your COVID-19 diagnosis or test? How did that conversation go?
• Who in the household are you planning on telling about your COVID-19 diagnosis or test? What do you expect that
discussion to look like? [Offer coaching if appropriate] Would you like support in telling them about your diagnosis?
Would you like to arrange for a 3-way call, so that I can be available to answer questions that may come up?

OTHER
• What other concerns (e.g., someone may be sick, someone may have a pre-existing health condition, kids are
little and may be upset to be separated) do you have regarding the home isolation instructions, the members of
your household or being separated from them during self-isolation? Let’s discuss some steps to take that may
address your concern(s).
• What questions or concerns do you have about home isolation that we have not covered?

TALKING WITH THE PATIENT 15 A CASE INVESTIGATOR’S GUIDE FOR COVID-19

 CONTACT ELICITATION
Aims: Discuss parameters and importance of contact elicitation; Assess and allay patient’s concerns; Elicit close
contacts who may have been exposed to COVID-19; Identify congregate living and work environments with
potential exposure.

INTRO
• Now I would like to discuss your close contacts and identify who may need to be notified of exposure so that
they can get tested and quarantine to prevent the spread of COVID-19. How do you feel about that?
• Many times people continue to live their lives normally when they have a common cold or when they are tired.
Some of the early symptoms of COVID-19 can look similar to other illnesses. You may have been out and about
not even realizing that you were sick.
• In order to stop COVID-19 from spreading in the community, we will need to discuss who may have been
exposed and work with them to make sure they get care if they need it and have them monitor themsleves for
symptoms so that they don’t spread it to others by accident.
• Not every person you walked by will need to be notified, but those people you spent time talking, working,
laughing, crying, or singing with or touching…those people who you were within 6 feet (two meters) for 15
minutes or more, could benefit from checking their symptoms each day so that they can get help early if they
start to have symptoms.
• When we talk about who may have been exposed to COVID-19, you should think about people who live in
your household, people at work, and people who you interact with during hobbies, social events, and other
daily life activities. You may want to tell some people yourself, and for others the health department can notify
them of exposure.
• It’s important that I emphasize again that your privacy will be protected at all times. The health department will
not disclose your name. We will also not disclose information about the people you have been in contact with.
We will simply let them know that they may have been exposed to COVID-19 recently and check-in with them
about any symptoms that they may be having and refer them to health care, or else talk to them about how
important it is for them quarantine and watch for symptoms so that they don’t spread the virus to others.

DISCUSSING CONTACT ELICITATION WINDOW

• [For symptomatic patients] Earlier when we talked about your symptoms, you said that <list symptom patient
stated came first> was the first symptom that you had from COVID-19. Let me just doublecheck, the date that
you first experienced <symptom>. [Note: case investigator should have predetermined the contact elicitation
window period based upon clinical information reported by the provider and then confirmed symptom onset
with the patient.] We would go back two days before that date, to cover the time frame when you could have
passed the virus to someone else, even without symptoms. Since you started isolation on _/__/___, let’s talk
about the people you spent time with, the places that you have gone, and other daily life activities between
<date> and <date>.
• [For asymptomatic patients] Since you could have passed the virus to someone else, even without symptoms,
we would go back fourteen days before the date of your positive test for COVID-19, to be sure that anyone

TALKING WITH THE PATIENT 16 A CASE INVESTIGATOR’S GUIDE FOR COVID-19

 who may have been exposed has an opportunity to be notified and evaluated. Since you started isolation on
_/__/___, let’s talk about the people you spend time with, the places that you have gone, and other daily life
activities between <date> and <date>.
• [Note to case investigator]: For each contact elicited, step through a list of identifying, locating and risk
questions. (See Appendices C and D.)

HOUSEHOLD CONTACTS
• People who live in the same household are more likely to contract COVID-19 because of the close living
environment, the amount of time spent together, and the shared surfaces that can transmit the virus. We want to
make sure that those who you live with can be tested or evaluated for COVID-19.
• Now, let’s talk about working together to keep you and your family or other household members healthy.
• Let’s talk again about the place that you live and the people who stay there with you. (Make and review list,
Appendices C ) Previously you talked about <insert the total number of people> who lived there; <insert #> Of
adults and <insert #> of children that stay there on a regular basis. Who else stays with you from time to time?
Who has stayed there recently?
• Let’s talk about each of these people (e.g., names, ages, contact information, potential risk for COVID-19 or
complications) and then discuss what would be the best way to notify them of exposure. Appendices C and D.)
• What other addresses do you use (for mail, or to stay occasionally)? When was the last time that you stayed
there? For how long? Who did you spend time with?
• Who in your household has been sick recently? (If they identify anyone sick, ask what type of symptoms, when
started, for how long?)
• Have they gone to the doctor or to get tested for COVID-19? (If yes, when and where, results?)

WORKPLACE
• Many people spend a lot of their time at work. Sometimes, people work very close together with the colleagues
or customers, travel together for work, or have shared workspaces or commonly shared surfaces that can
transmit the virus. Let’s talk about the work that you do and your work environment to see who may need to get
tested or evaluated for COVID-19.
• Earlier we talked about what you do for work. Let me just confirm, I have it listed as [name, location, contact
information]. Let’s talk about who from work may need to be evaluated for COVID-19.
• When was the last time you were at work?
• What was your last day of work? Did you feel sick on that day?
• Have you called out sick since then?
• What have you told them about your diagnosis/test results?
• What is your work schedule? Do you work full time or part time?
• Tell me about your work. What do you do there?
• How do you get to and from work? (Prompts: ride share, employer sponsored bus, carpool, etc.) Who do you
travel with?

TALKING WITH THE PATIENT 17 A CASE INVESTIGATOR’S GUIDE FOR COVID-19

 • What is your work setting like? (Prompts: is everyone in one room? Do you work in a cubicle? Do you have your
own office? How many people are onsite together? Do you have a shared workspace? Do you have a shared
breakroom? Do you have an onsite cafeteria? Where do you eat lunch?)
• (Special Circumstances in the Workplace) Some workplaces have a higher risk for spreading illness if someone
is sick with COVID-19. Places where people live together in close contact, known as congregate living
environments (hospitals, long-term nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, group homes, mental health
hospitals, correctional facilites, homeless shelters) or large factory settings often require an environmental
assessment by health specialists in order to make sure that protective measures are put in place, so more peole
don’t get sick. Would you describe your workplace as a congregate living or work environment? In what area(s)
of the facility do you work? [Note to case investigator: Appendix E is a job aid to assist with a “facility-based”
elicitation process].
• Do you work with the same people all the time or do you often work with different people? What does that
look like?
• Do you provide services in different settings (e.g., airconditioning repair for businesses, physical therapy for
nursing homes, carpentry in personal homes)? What locations have you been onsite recently?
• How often do you have meetings? What meetings have you attended between <date> to <date> and who
was there?
• How often do you travel during the work day? Have you traveled with anyone from work recently? (Probes: For
meetings? Supply pickup? Site visits? Vehicle pickup?) If so, who did you travel with, when did you travel, and
where did you go?
• Who at your work has been sick recently?
• Who else do you know (your family or friends) who works there?

PEOPLE, PLACES, ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS

• Let’s talk about your daily activities frome __/__/__ through __/__/__. Let’s talk about people you shared time
with, the places you went, and the events you attended. [Note to case investigator: See Appendix A for a list of
potential contacts and locations to discuss, and Appendicies C, D and E to assist with information gathering].
• Why don’t we start with the day before you started self-isolation at home. Where did you go on that day and who
did you see?
• You told me that your first symptom (name of symptom) started on xx/xx/xxx; that looks like a “Monday/
Tuesday” around the time you first began to feel ill. Let’s think back to the two days before that. What were you
doing then?
• [If not mentioned as part of the household] Who is your partner/significant other? When did you last see them?
• What family or friends have you had over recently? Gone to visit recently? Where did you go? Who was there
with you?
• When was the last time that you stood and talked to your neighbors? Or helped each other out with something?
• Who do you know who also has COVID-19?
• Has anyone else told you that you may have been exposed to COVID? Who would that be? When did they let you
know? Who else do you know who has been sick?

TALKING WITH THE PATIENT 18 A CASE INVESTIGATOR’S GUIDE FOR COVID-19

 • If you look through your contacts in your phone, who else comes to mind that may need to be evaluated for
COVID-19?
• Do you have a calendar or other schedule that you use? If you look through your calendar in your phone, what
were you doing from <date> to <date>? Who were you with at that time who may need to be evaluated for
COVID-19? How did you travel there?
• Do you use any apps on your phone regularly that may provide clues to your whereabouts? If you look through
your phone, at some of those apps (e.g., Facebook, meet up, WhatsApp, Telegram, foursquare, GirlCrew,
Instagram, google maps, dating apps, social networking apps), what events did you attend or people did you
meet from <date> to <date>?
• Tell me about your recent activities. When was the last time that you: Got your hair done? Went out to eat or out
for drinks? Took a class? Volunteered? Took public transportation? Exercised with others? Celebrated an occasion?
Did a group activity? Who else was there? Who may have been sick at the time?
• Where have you traveled in the last (contact elicitation window period)? Tell me about that trip. Who was with
you? Where did you go? How did you travel? Where did you stay and who did you stay with on the trip?

CONCLUSION
Aims: : Check-in on agreements; Answer remaining questions; Set stage for follow-up .

CHECK-IN, QUESTIONS AND AGREEMENTS

• We have talked about a lot of topics today. I want • What questions do you have about what will happen
to take a few minutes to check in on how you’re are next with the information that we have discussed?
feeling and discuss our plans. • So, our daily check-ins start tomorrow. What
• How are you feeling about all of this? questions do you have about the time and the
• What questions do you have for me? method that we discussed?

• How can I (or my agency) be of additional assistance • And if you start to feel worse your plan was to….?
to you?

ACKNOWLEDGING THE DIFFICULTY AND KEEPING THE DOOR OPEN FOR CONTACT.
• I just want to check in to be sure that you know how to reach me if you have other questions or concerns after we
get off the phone. My name is spelled, <insert name>, and my phone number is <insert phone number>.
• Either I or someone from my team may reach out to you to check in to see if you are ok or whether you’ve
connected with the other services we talked about today. They will also protect your privacy. We may have other
questions that arise. Just wanted to confirm the best number to reach you is <repeat ‘best contact number’
provided by patient>.
• I can’t thank you enough for talking to me and helping us stop the spread of COVID-19in [location]. I know this is
a very difficult time for you and your family, and we truly want everything to go well for you.

TALKING WITH THE PATIENT 19 A CASE INVESTIGATOR’S GUIDE FOR COVID-19

 APPENDIX A
This table is intended to assist case investigators in thinking about the various exposure sites where the patient may
have interacted with close contacts.

POTENTIAL CONTACTS AND EXPOSURE LOCATIONS

Please note this list is not inclusive of all possible type of contacts or exposure sites.

Type of Contacts Locations

Household Place of residence

Family, Friends, and Social Family gatherings, social residential gatherings, exercise/workout settings, hiking
Acquaintances or camping, hunting or fishing trips, cooking class, yoga class, dance class, other
enrichment classes, book club meeting, birthday party, baby shower, wedding, funeral,
barbeque, weekend getaway, block party, holiday pot-luck, vacation, visited family or
friends at nursing home/group home, etc.

Transportation and Travel Lyft, Uber, carpool, bus, commuter van, light rail, train, airline travel, cruise, etc.

Workplace--- Businesses, meetings, conferences, restaurants, shops, clients’ homes (e.g., carpenter,
Colleagues/Customers electrician, plumber), factory, hair salon, etc.

Community Schools, child care, grocery stores, drug stores, shops/shopping malls, restaurants, coffee
shops, hardware store, bank, worship centers, movie theaters, sporting events, concerts,
bars/brewhouse, night clubs, library, bowling alley, bingo hall, barber shop, hair salon,
nail salon, brow or eyelash salon, day spa, tattoo shop, piercing shop, yoga studio, gym,
street faire, festival, county/state fair, animal shelter, airport, polling location, etc.

Healthcare Hospital, emergency room, physician offices, dialysis centers, laboratories, dentist offices,
pharmacies, ambulance transport, chiropractor, physical therapy, etc.

Congregate Living Medical: hospital (inpatient); acute care facility, skilled nursing facility, long-term medical
Settings care facility, etc.
Non-medical: long-term care residential home, assisted living facility, hospice, retirement
home, dormitory, group home, correctional facility (prison/jail/juvenile hall), homeless
shelter, multigenerational household, renting/sharing dorm rooms and/or beds based
on the shift work at factories or food processing plants etc.

TALKING WITH THE PATIENT 20 A CASE INVESTIGATOR’S GUIDE FOR COVID-19

 APPENDIX B
This table is intended to guide the patient through assessement of COVID-19 symptoms, onset, and duration.
Information gleaned here will inform the contact elicitation window (48 hours prior to start of symptoms until the
patient is isolated).

COVID-19 SYMPTOM ASSESSMENT

KEY: Y=yes, N=no, U=Unknown, R=refused

COVID-19 Symptoms Presence of Symptoms Date of Onset Duration

Fever Circle (Y/N/U/R) Date of onset Number of days

Cough Circle (Y/N/U/R) Date of onset Number of days

Diarrhea/GI Circle (Y/N/U/R) Date of onset Number of days

Headache Circle (Y/N/U/R) Date of onset Number of days

Muscle ache Circle (Y/N/U/R) Date of onset Number of days

Chills Circle (Y/N/U/R) Date of onset Number of days

Sore throat Circle (Y/N/U/R) Date of onset Number of days

Vomiting Circle (Y/N/U/R) Date of onset Number of days

Abdominal Pain Circle (Y/N/U/R) Date of onset Number of days

Nasal congestion Circle (Y/N/U/R) Date of onset Number of days

New loss of sense of smell Circle (Y/N/U/R) Date of onset Number of days

New loss of sense of taste Circle (Y/N/U/R) Date of onset Number of days

Malaise Circle (Y/N/U/R) Date of onset Number of days

Fatigue Circle (Y/N/U/R) Date of onset Number of days

Shortness of breath or dif-

Circle (Y/N/U/R) Date of onset Number of days
ficulty/trouble breathing*
Persistent pain or pressure
Circle (Y/N/U/R) Date of onset Number of days
in the chest*
New confusion* Circle (Y/N/U/R) Date of onset Number of days

Inability to wake or stay

Circle (Y/N/U/R) Date of onset Number of days
awake*
Bluish lips or face* Circle (Y/N/U/R) Date of onset Number of days

Other symptom(s) Circle (Y/N/U/R) Date of onset Number of days

*Emergency Warning Signs—Persons with these symptoms should be referred for emergency medical care.

TALKING WITH THE PATIENT 21 A CASE INVESTIGATOR’S GUIDE FOR COVID-19

 APPENDIX C
This table is intended to assist in elicitation of contact names, locating, risk and other pertinent health information and notification planning. This
information will be used to locate and communicate with contacts regarding their exposure, and prioritize follow-up of high-risk individuals and
congregate living or work settings.

TALKING WITH THE PATIENT

CONTACT ELICITATION TOOL
(Please note: All of the information contained in this table is “per patient report”. It is recommended that this information be gathered/verified through a direct conversation with the
“contact” (the person exposed to COVID-19.))

Name of Contact Relationship to Last Date of Type/Duration of Locating Risk Information Other Pertinent Initial notification
Patient Exposure Exposure (e.g., Information (e.g., HCW, Health of exposure (e.g.
setting and live or work Information patient, case
minutes/hours in congregate (Patient investigator)
spent together) setting, high-risk Reported) (e.g.,
individual) COVID-19 test
positive, cough
and fever x 3 days)

22
XXX XXXXXX wife X/xx/xxx Daily contact, Cell xxxxxx Previous surgery No symptoms patient
live and sleep Address same as and recent or tests for
together patient completion of COVID-19
chemotherapy
for breast cancer
XXX co-worker x/xx/xxx Contact 5 days/ Cell xxxxxx smoker Increasingly Case investigator
XXXXX week, ride Address xxxxxxx worse cough,
together in truck Employer stuffy nose, off
cab 6-9 hour/day xxxxxxx and on feverish
over past week
or so

A CASE INVESTIGATOR’S GUIDE FOR COVID-19

 APPENDIX D
This table is intended to provide a list of questions to ask the patient about each of their contacts (persons that
may have been exposed to COVID-19). This information will be used to locate and communicate with contacts
regarding their exposure and to prioritize follow-up of contact at high-risk and contact within congregate living or
work settings.

SAMPLE OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS FOR EACH CONTACT ELICITED

• What is their name? What name do they go by?
• Who old are they? What is their age, or date of birth?
• What is their gender?
• What is their race/ethnicity?
• What languages do they speak?
• What do they look like (distinguishing features)?
• What is the best way to reach them? Cell number? Email?
• Where do they live? Address? Who do they live with?
• Where do they work, and work location? City, State? What is their job, work function? Works in
close proximity with others?
• When did you see them last? When did you last spend time with them? For how long (minutes/
hours)?
• What symptoms might they have had?
• Are you aware of any risk factors (like smoking) underlying medical factors (like the ones that we
discussed earlier) they may increase their risk for complications from COVID-19? If yes, do you feel
comfortable sharing that information? Tell me about them.
• What do they know about your COVID status?

TALKING WITH THE PATIENT 23 A CASE INVESTIGATOR’S GUIDE FOR COVID-19

 APPENDIX E
This table is intended to assist in exploring locations or facilities (Exposure Sites)where the patient visited or worked while infectious, identifying
specific areas within each facility (Exposure Settings), and people who may have been exposed. This information can be used to inform both facility and
individual contact investigations.

TALKING WITH THE PATIENT

ELICITATION OF EXPOSURE SITES AND SETTINGS (PHYSICAL LOCATIONS)
Exposure Site Exposure Type of Exposure Date(s) of Duration of Time Contact(s) Patient’s Prioritization
(facility name Setting, Area (e.g., talking, Exposure Spent in Setting (e.g., number, Symptoms: (Points to Consider:
and location) within Facility singing, physical (most recent category, names) potential
(e.g., specific contact) date, frequency, infectiousness
room(s), location other dates in (symptoms],
on production contact elicitation type of exposure,
line, room size, window period) duration of
description) exposure,
proximity)

Group Home living room Potluck birthday Date (one time) 1.5 hours 5 group home day two of

24
e.g., Visited my (12 feet x 18 feet) celebration residents symptoms
son at his group (singing, 2 staff (“extremely tired
home about a laughing, eating, and icky from
week after my games) travel”)
cruise
Group Home Son’s bedroom Hugging, Talking, Date (one time) 2 hours 1 son day two of
e.g., Visited my (8 feet x 10 feet) Laughing (group home symptoms
son at his group resident) (“extremely tired
home about a and icky from
week after my travel”)
cruise
one week into
Church symptoms
30mins 8 choir members
e.g. Sunday Most recent Date: of hoarse
Dressing Room Talking (15 each prior/ 1 altar assistants
service at place <Date #1> throat, slight
after) (A)
of worship cough, fatigue,
headache

A CASE INVESTIGATOR’S GUIDE FOR COVID-19

Continued...
 Exposure Site Exposure Type of Exposure Date(s) of Duration of Time Contact(s) Patient’s Prioritization
(facility name Setting, Area (e.g., talking, Exposure Spent in Setting (e.g., number, Symptoms: (Points to Consider:
and location) within Facility singing, physical (most recent category, names) potential
(e.g., specific contact) date, frequency, infectiousness
room(s), location other dates in (symptoms],
on production contact elicitation type of exposure,

TALKING WITH THE PATIENT

line, room size, window period) duration of
description) exposure,
proximity)

8 choir members
Church
30mins (same on both
e.g. Sunday one day prior to
Dressing Room Talking, singing <Date #2> (15 each prior/ dates)
service at place symptoms
after) 1 altar assistants
of worship
(B)
one week into
Church Choir Seating symptoms
e.g. Sunday Section Most recent Date: 8 choir members of hoarse
Talking, singing 1 hour service

25
service at place (6 ft x 8 ft) in <Date #1> (same as above) throat, slight
of worship Chancel cough, fatigue,
headache
Church Choir Seating
e.g. Sunday Section 8 choir members one day prior to
Talking, singing <Date #2> 1 hour service
service at place (6 ft x 8 ft) in (same as above) symptoms
of worship Chancel
one week into
Chancel 8 choir members
symptoms
(containing (same as above)
Church of hoarse
pulpit, lectern, 2 pastor(s)
e.g. Sunday <Date #1> throat, slight
choir, altar) Talking, singing 1 hour service (same on both
service at place <Date #2> cough, fatigue,
open structure in dates)
of worship headache and
church/worship 2 altar assistants
one day prior to
hall (35 ft x 15 ft) (same as above)
symptoms
Continued...

A CASE INVESTIGATOR’S GUIDE FOR COVID-19

 Exposure Site Exposure Type of Exposure Date(s) of Duration of Time Contact(s) Patient’s Prioritization
(facility name Setting, Area (e.g., talking, Exposure Spent in Setting (e.g., number, Symptoms: (Points to Consider:
and location) within Facility singing, physical (most recent category, names) potential
(e.g., specific contact) date, frequency, infectiousness
room(s), location other dates in (symptoms],
on production contact elicitation type of exposure,

TALKING WITH THE PATIENT

line, room size, window period) duration of
description) exposure,
proximity)

Nave
(congregation
seating area) of
one week into
church/worship
symptoms
hall (separated
Church of hoarse
from Chancel
e.g. Sunday <Date #1> Estimate 42 throat, slight
by five steps, Talking, singing 1 hour service
service at place <Date #2> parishioners cough, fatigue,
open structure,
of worship headache and
high ceiling,

26
one day prior to
containing rows
symptoms
of seating
in pews,
(40 feet x 35 feet)
Meeting Hall
Church
(open space 35 35 minute
e.g. Sunday 2 council one day prior to
feet x 35 feet) talking <Date #2> intense, close
service at place members symptoms
for coffee and conversation
of worship
doughnuts
Meeting Hall
Church
(open space 35
e.g. Sunday one day prior to
feet x 35 feet) talking <Date #2> 1 hour 25 people
service at place symptoms
for coffee and
of worship
doughnuts

A CASE INVESTIGATOR’S GUIDE FOR COVID-19

cdc.gov/coronavirus

CS-317377-A 06/08/2020 1445