Abstract
Background: The novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly evolved into a global emergency with far-reaching consequences. Multiple models predict mounting morbidity and mortality in the absence of appropriate interventions. Screening of sub-clinical cases through technological tools has the potential to eliminate virus containment in the population. Objective: Our aim was to develop an effective application that detected early COVID-19 infections and resulted in four-dimensional (4-D) data visualization systems to develop safe networks whilst respecting user privacy. Methods: We proposed an algorithm for a novel form of contact tracing and screening that can detect infection before manifestation of clinical symptoms and signs. We developed a simulation model that demonstrated impact on the pandemic through percent change in the “trigger point”. Results: A “trigger point” based on personal risk assessment generated a visual report to the community network. The following outcomes were rendered in the app: live surveillance of metadata, hotspot mapping, targeted live health messaging to a large population, an infection control passport technology, and personal hotspot avoidance warnings. Our model suggested that higher adoption of such strategies can potentially eliminate viral carriage in the population. Conclusions: Our proposed technology-enabled screening, detection, and elimination strategy presents a novel approach to eliminate the viral containment. This app could be applied to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as other outbreaks and epidemics in the future to control the unprecedented disease spread.
Highlights
As of September 4, 2020, there were 26,016,839 confirmed cases of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with 863,020 deaths [1]
Our proposed technology-enabled screening, detection, and elimination strategy presents a novel approach to eliminate the viral containment. This app could be applied to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as other outbreaks and epidemics in the future to control the unprecedented disease spread
In order to set the weighting for the EPIDEM trigger point, the order of symptom development was taken into account as follows: fever, cough, nausea and/or vomiting followed by diarrhea [19]
Summary
As of September 4, 2020, there were 26,016,839 confirmed cases of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with 863,020 deaths [1]. Infection was initially categorized into four types: mild, moderate, severe, and critical [9]; the risk of transmission of infection from asymptomatic carriers has been reported [10] The latter is characterized by absence of clinical and radiological findings but similar infectivity as symptomatic cases [11]. Conclusions: Our proposed technology-enabled screening, detection, and elimination strategy presents a novel approach to eliminate the viral containment. This app could be applied to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as other outbreaks and epidemics in the future to control the unprecedented disease spread
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