Digital technology applications for contact tracing: the new promise for COVID-19 and beyond?
Abstract Among the most critical strategies in the fight against the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) is the rapid tracing and notification of potentially infected persons. Several nations have implemented mobile software applications (“apps”) to alert persons exposed to the coronavirus. The expected...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-08-01
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| Series: | Global Health Research and Policy |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41256-020-00164-1 |
| _version_ | 1818510663532675072 |
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| author | Priscilla N. Owusu |
| author_facet | Priscilla N. Owusu |
| author_sort | Priscilla N. Owusu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Among the most critical strategies in the fight against the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) is the rapid tracing and notification of potentially infected persons. Several nations have implemented mobile software applications (“apps”) to alert persons exposed to the coronavirus. The expected advantages of this new technology over the traditional method of contact tracing include speed, specificity, and mass reach. Beyond its use for mitigating and containing COVID-19, digital technology can complement or even augment the traditional approach to global health program implementation. However, as with any new system, strong regulatory frameworks are necessary to ensure that individual information is not used for surveillance purposes, and user privacy will be maintained. Having safeguarded this, perhaps the global health community will witness the beginning of a new era of implementing mass health programs through the medium of digital technology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T23:23:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6cae3373e52f4684be68e2da64f9dbb9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2397-0642 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T23:23:01Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Health Research and Policy |
| spelling | doaj.art-6cae3373e52f4684be68e2da64f9dbb92022-12-22T01:29:39ZengBMCGlobal Health Research and Policy2397-06422020-08-01511310.1186/s41256-020-00164-1Digital technology applications for contact tracing: the new promise for COVID-19 and beyond?Priscilla N. Owusu0Heidelberg University, Institute of Global HealthAbstract Among the most critical strategies in the fight against the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) is the rapid tracing and notification of potentially infected persons. Several nations have implemented mobile software applications (“apps”) to alert persons exposed to the coronavirus. The expected advantages of this new technology over the traditional method of contact tracing include speed, specificity, and mass reach. Beyond its use for mitigating and containing COVID-19, digital technology can complement or even augment the traditional approach to global health program implementation. However, as with any new system, strong regulatory frameworks are necessary to ensure that individual information is not used for surveillance purposes, and user privacy will be maintained. Having safeguarded this, perhaps the global health community will witness the beginning of a new era of implementing mass health programs through the medium of digital technology.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41256-020-00164-1COVID-19Digital health technologyPopulation healthProgram implementationHealth policy |
| spellingShingle | Priscilla N. Owusu Digital technology applications for contact tracing: the new promise for COVID-19 and beyond? Global Health Research and Policy COVID-19 Digital health technology Population health Program implementation Health policy |
| title | Digital technology applications for contact tracing: the new promise for COVID-19 and beyond? |
| title_full | Digital technology applications for contact tracing: the new promise for COVID-19 and beyond? |
| title_fullStr | Digital technology applications for contact tracing: the new promise for COVID-19 and beyond? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Digital technology applications for contact tracing: the new promise for COVID-19 and beyond? |
| title_short | Digital technology applications for contact tracing: the new promise for COVID-19 and beyond? |
| title_sort | digital technology applications for contact tracing the new promise for covid 19 and beyond |
| topic | COVID-19 Digital health technology Population health Program implementation Health policy |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41256-020-00164-1 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT priscillanowusu digitaltechnologyapplicationsforcontacttracingthenewpromiseforcovid19andbeyond |