How Is Contact Tracing Going To Play A Key Role In The Near Future

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus has taken a toll over the entire world and has caused a dent not only to the economy but also to the human race. The multiplying surge in the number of cases has led to the implementation of the “stay-at-home” orders worldwide that would in one way minimise the potential of people getting infected by the virus. In order to counter the long lasting effect of the pandemic, governments across the globe continue to work in tandem with organisations to find a permanent solution. 

Contact tracing, however new it may sound has been implemented since ages to curb the spread of infectious diseases. In today’s time contact tracing has been an essential public health measure and a critical component of the comprehensive strategy adopted to control the spread of the coronavirus. The phenomenon of contact tracing breaks the chains of human to human transmission. This deals with identifying, assessing, and managing people who have been exposed to a disease to prevent transmission. Contact tracing if implemented effectively can ensure a limit to the number of fresh cases generated. With technology infiltrating almost every segment, technologists have been rushing to develop applications, services and systems that will enhance contact tracing which will eventually help reduce the spread of the virus. 

Contact tracing however comes with a certain set of challenges that include incomplete identification of contacts, inefficiencies in paper-based reporting systems, complex data management requirements, and delays in steps from identification of contacts to isolation of suspected cases among contacts. Technology can however help in overcoming these challenges through entity resolution, case management, alert automation and network analytics. Advancements in the field of data management and cutting edge analytics has provided contact tracers a new set of tools to work with. Innovative analytical modelling tools have paved way for the health and the government officials in seeking responses to critical questions that help in forming and implementing smart public health policies. Data visualisation enables the users to perform deeper investigations of contacts and data to uncover hidden patterns and share them across various health agencies. 

With technology here to stay and constant up gradations in the segment continue, contact tracing will become more efficient, concrete with lesser loopholes and will aid in diminishing the pandemic in the near future, thus playing a vital role. Considering the current situation, contact tracing will have a follow on effect that will help governments understand, identify and alert people to the inevitable re-emergence of the outbreak and will also help provide a clear picture of re-opening of the society.

Santosh Patidar

Guest Author Founder of DINGG