Abstract
COVID 19 pandemic has exposed gaps in outbreak management in different parts of the world. Evidence based decisions are compelled by health authorities. Even though Geographical Information System (GIS) has been identified as a technology to support different avenues of public health management, it has been rarely utilized at regional level outbreak management. COVID-19 case maps for high-risk Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas at Grama Niladari Division (GND) level were compiled using freely available GIS software. These maps were used in different scenarios of regional level outbreak management and also helped other nonhealth stakeholders involved in COVID 19 prevention activities.
Highlights
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial mapping act as new tools to fight complex pandemics
The challenges caused by COVID 19 prompted health officials to use GIS mapping
Grama Niladhari Division (GND) is the smallest administrative boundary of Sri Lanka and demarcation is clearly defined and digitized the maps for GIS purposes by the Department of Survey General. These Grama Niladari Division (GND) information is used to demarcate the COVID 19 risk area supported with other COVID 19 related epidemiological risk parameters
Summary
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial mapping act as new tools to fight complex pandemics. The use of GIS mapping in an outbreak yields several important results for prevention of further spread, identification of hot spots, resource allocation, future trend projections. The challenges caused by COVID 19 prompted health officials to use GIS mapping. The use of maps can be at many levels. It has been initially used for spatial identification of the spread of the disease and forecasting future outbreaks[1]. Use of GIS mapping in the field is still in infancy stages in Developing countries like Sri Lanka due to inadequacy GIS professionals and the resources. First case of COVID 19 in Sri Lanka was reported on 10/03/2020(7). Our objective in this study was to utilize GIS mapping in the COVID 19 outbreak management in local setting
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
