SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted primarily through close, person-to-person interactions . Physical distancing policies can control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 by reducing the amount of these interactions in a population . Here, we report results from four waves of contact surveys designed to quantify the impact of these policies during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States . We surveyed 9,743 respondents between March 22 and September 26 , 2020 . We find that interpersonal contact has been dramatically reduced in the US, with an 82% (95% CI : 80% -83 %) reduction in the average number of daily contacts observed during the first wave compared to pre-pandemic levels . However, we find increases in contact rates over the subsequent waves . We also find that certain demographic groups, including people under 45 and males, have significantly higher contact rates than the rest of the population . Tracking these changes can provide rapid assessments of the impact of physical distancing policies and help to identify at-risk populations.