Localized Contact Tracing for COVID-19 May 18, 2020 Anthony C. - PDF document

Harnessing the Localized Contact Tracing for COVID-19 May 18, 2020 Anthony C. Leachon, MD, FPCP, FACP Special Adviser to the National Task Force for COVID-19 Past President, Philippine College of Physicians

Outline 1. Global data and local data 2. Reference Models 3. Concept of Contact Tracing 4. Application of Technology to Contact Tracing 5. Summary

Reference model: the Ebola Experience

Global Data of COVID-19

COVID-19 Cases in the Philippines

South Korea as a Model Country

Vietnam and New Zealand are able to keep their numbers low Low number of cases and low case fatality rates! Vietnam = 0 New Zealand =1.4% • Quick, coordinated response system – Nationwide lockdowns, meticulous contact tracing • Strict enforcement of restrictions in movement done by the police and military • Exceptional leadership and governance

What is contact tracing? • Epidemiological surveillance method to identify people who may have been exposed to a disease – direct contact with an infected individual – close proximity to the infected individual

CDC; What exactly is contact tracing? • Contact Tracing tracks down anyone who might have been infected by a person who was recently diagnosed so those contacts can quarantine themselves and prevent further spread • Public health staff work with a patient to help them recall everyone with whom they have had close contact during the time frame while they have been infectious

Contact Tracing is an integral part of the government’s response to manage the pandemic

Goals of Contact Tracing • diminish the spread of the virus and the duration of the pandemic • influence public health policies through analysis of contamination chains – Break the chain of transmission!

Key Quesions 1. WHO did the infected individual come in contact with? 2. WHEN did these interactions happen? 3. WHERE did these take place?

An old surveillance concept that can be enhanced with technology • it is an old practice in investigating and controlling infectious diseases • For COVID 19: New York hires 17,000 tracers; Belgium around 2,000 “corona detectives” – field investigating – call centers/hotlines – data analysis

How can technology help? • data visualization and analytics • understanding linkages in the disease – Know more information on who to test, local spread, most vulnerable communities – identifying “hot zones” – implement quarantine & isolation protocols

Four Areas of Data Analytics 1. Contact transaction databases display linkages between patients, their contacts, the places they frequent to 1. Enriched contact tracing data automation of analytical models that reflect real- world data and conditions 1. Intelligent alerting notification of contact via SMS, e-mails 1. Public health insights who should be tested, who is most likely to spread the virus, who are at greatest risk, effects of social distancing

Privacy • techniques to protect privacy of information – masking, deidentification, role- based security – balance privacy with public health

Summary • Contact tracing is part and parcel of managing the pandemic • Latest advances in technology (location tagging, GPS) can help in contact tracing, as well as monitoring movement of COVID Suspects who need to do home quarantine • Data privacy must always be balanced with public health concerns

“If we wanted to solve a problem in one minute, dedicate 58 seconds in understanding the problem and 2 seconds in finding the solution.” Albert Einstein