Learning from the initial deployment of digital contact tracing apps

Poletto, Chiara; Boëlle, Pierre‐Yves

doi:10.1016/s2468-2667(22)00035-4

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Empirical evaluations of the effectiveness of digital proximity-tracing apps remain scarce [ 12 ]. Recent evaluations have mainly produced mixed results, ranging from substantial [ 13 - 15 ] to moderate [ 16 , 17 ] or disappointing [ 18 ] findings.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance of the Swiss Digital Contact-Tracing App Over Various SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic Waves: Repeated Cross-sectional Analyses

Daniore¹,

Nittas²,

Menges³

et al. 2022

JMIR Public Health Surveill

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Background Digital proximity-tracing apps have been deployed in multiple countries to assist with SARS-CoV-2 pandemic mitigation efforts. However, it is unclear how their performance and effectiveness were affected by changing pandemic contexts and new viral variants of concern. Objective The aim of this study is to bridge these knowledge gaps through a countrywide digital proximity-tracing app effectiveness assessment, as guided by the World Health Organization/European Center for Prevention and Disease Control (WHO/ECDC) indicator framework to evaluate the public health effectiveness of digital proximity-tracing solutions. Methods We performed a descriptive analysis of the digital proximity-tracing app SwissCovid in Switzerland for 3 different periods where different SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (ie, Alpha, Delta, and Omicron, respectively) were most prevalent. In our study, we refer to the indicator framework for the evaluation of public health effectiveness of digital proximity-tracing apps of the WHO/ECDC. We applied this framework to compare the performance and effectiveness indicators of the SwissCovid app. Results Average daily registered SARS-CoV-2 case rates during our assessment period from January 25, 2021, to March 19, 2022, were 20 (Alpha), 54 (Delta), and 350 (Omicron) per 100,000 inhabitants. The percentages of overall entered authentication codes from positive tests into the SwissCovid app were 9.9% (20,273/204,741), 3.9% (14,372/365,846), and 4.6% (72,324/1,581,506) during the Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variant phases, respectively. Following receipt of an exposure notification from the SwissCovid app, 58% (37/64, Alpha), 44% (7/16, Delta), and 73% (27/37, Omicron) of app users sought testing or performed self-tests. Test positivity among these exposure-notified individuals was 19% (7/37) in the Alpha variant phase, 29% (2/7) in the Delta variant phase, and 41% (11/27) in the Omicron variant phase compared to 6.1% (228,103/3,755,205), 12% (413,685/3,443,364), and 41.7% (1,784,951/4,285,549) in the general population, respectively. In addition, 31% (20/64, Alpha), 19% (3/16, Delta), and 30% (11/37, Omicron) of exposure-notified app users reported receiving mandatory quarantine orders by manual contact tracing or through a recommendation by a health care professional. Conclusions In constantly evolving pandemic contexts, the effectiveness of digital proximity-tracing apps in contributing to mitigating pandemic spread should be reviewed regularly and adapted based on changing requirements. The WHO/ECDC framework allowed us to assess relevant domains of digital proximity tracing in a holistic and systematic approach. Although the Swisscovid app mostly worked, as reasonably expected, our analysis revealed room for optimizations and further performance improvements. Future implementation of digital proximity-tracing apps should place more emphasis on social, psychological, and organizational aspects to reduce bottlenecks and facilitate their use in pandemic contexts.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance of the Swiss Digital Contact-Tracing App Over Various SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic Waves: Repeated Cross-sectional Analyses

Daniore¹,

Nittas²,

Menges³

et al. 2022

JMIR Public Health Surveill

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The [Swiss] study found that 'the optimal implementation of a digital contact tracing app must account for the epidemic context and deal with acceptability, privacy, and the respect of civil liberties' (Poletto and Boëlle, 2022). I go a step further than this to suggest that where there was a lack of confidence more broadly in the government's pandemic response, there was a lack of uptake.…”

Section: Case Study 1: Nhs Test and Trace Contact Tracing App (Uk)mentioning

confidence: 99%

From a crisis of confidence towards confidence in a crisis

Patel

2024

Governance, Democracy and Ethics in Crisis-Decision-Making

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“… 5 However, comparisons of DCT effectiveness compared to conventional contact tracing are highly dependent on the epidemiological context. 6 Another study published since this prior review estimated that in the United Kingdom, during a period with high incidence of COVID-19 and with limited to no conventional contact tracing occurring, each COVID-19 case using a DCT app contributed to one COVID-19 case averted, though with considerable uncertainty about the absolute number of COVID-19 cases averted during the study period (108,000–914,000 across two different estimation methods). 7 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%