Would you consider downloading an app that would trace your movements to help public health officials with contact tracing should you become ill with COVID-19?
That’s something the provincial government is now considering in light of the latest suggestions from a team led by Dr. Proton Rahman, which gathering information to project the spread of the virus.
The latest numbers show that the first wave of the virus has peaked in the province.
Voluntary consented digital contact tracing—or a phone app—is among additional measures being considered by public health officials to track the spread of the virus.
There were no new confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported yesterday in the province’s daily report. There have only been two new confirmed cases in the province in over a week, and 221 of the total number of 258 cases are recovered.
While Dr. Proton Rahman says it appears we are crushing the curve, the virus persists. He questions whether the system has the ability to handle another peak should public health measures be relaxed or lifted.
If an individual can infect two others, who then infect two more people, the numbers can grow very quickly. Dr. Rahman says regular public health contact tracing might only identify a portion of the people an individual may come into contact with the course of ordinary activities.
If you identify at least six contacts, says Dr. Rahman, the infection rate is immediately affected, dropping to 5-10 per cent from 40-50 per cent of the population.
(Dr. Proton Rahman.)
Health Minister John Haggie says work is currently underway to develop an app to help with contact tracing for those interested in participating.
However, in order for it to work, about 60 per cent of the population would have to make use of the opt-in system.
