The importance of contact tracing in a COVID-19 world has been drilled into Kiwis as New Zealand moves to alert level 2, but an expert says it continues to be unclear how technology will support that.
As countries around the world begin to get a grip on the infectious SARS-CoV-2 virus, lockdown measures are slowly being lifted. It's prompted a warning on Tuesday from the World Health Organization (WHO), which says "extra vigilance" is required to ensure a second wave of outbreaks don't occur.
New Zealand moves to alert level 2 on Thursday, allowing more businesses to open, people to return to restaurants to socialise, and gatherings to take place. Kiwis have been told of the importance of recording their movements and who they have interacted with.
This assists with contact tracing, the process of tracking down and isolating people who may have been exposed to someone with the virus before they go on to infect anyone. Modelling provided to the New Zealand Government over the last two months has stressed how crucial fast contact tracing is to our COVID-19 response and stopping a spike in cases.
While people and businesses have been encouraged to use traditional pen and paper or diaries to keep track of their movements or who has entered their premise, technology has also been used overseas.
"There's a lot of benefit to using technology. It takes a bit of load off us, it allows the collection of a lot of data, if it is done well and done safely," Paul Spain, the chief executive of Gorilla Technology, told The AM Show.
"The industry, the technology industry, a number of companies are now trying to work together to define a standard because the Government isn't giving them one," he said.
Overseas, smartphone applications have been used for weeks. Some utilise Bluetooth to track individuals' movements and who they may have come into contact with. If someone with the application becomes infected, their close contacts are then notified of the need to self-isolate. Other contact tracing technology, including some being developed by Kiwi companies, use phone applications to scan QR codes at businesses, recording who has been there.
The Health Minister said on Saturday that a contact tracing application is "well developed" and "expected to be released for voluntary registration very soon". The Ministry of Health is currently working with a provider, with the first release of the application to allow for users to register their contact details and the second allowing people to record their details using a QR code.
Spain says he recognises things are "moving at a pace", but guidance and clarity is needed soon, especially with more businesses opening on Thursday.
"We have some stores being required [to record customers' information], or some organisations being required. It seems like a lot of retailers won't be required to collect information, it is sorta optional. It does seem to be a bit of shambles at the moment.
"I really hope the Government can finalise some really clear guidance and maybe get behind the tech companies that are trying to come up with a solution.
"We need to be able to cater to not just those with a smartphone, there are people who don't have access to an app. Maybe a family member can print out a special code that would then be able to link back to a secure database and storage of people's details that can't be misused."
According to the COVID-19 website, gatherings must "record attendees to ensure contact tracing can be conducted if necessary" while businesses can have customers on their premises if they "have good contact registers, or contact tracing records". However, it also says that businesses should enforce physical distancing of 2 metres between customers if it's "not possible to keep contact tracing records".
Worksafe says contact tracing records are required at bars, restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, public venues and public gatherings, while in other situations the records are "encouraged".
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has previously emphasised that contact tracing technology will only complement work being done in public health units (PHUs) and the newly created National Close Contact Service (NCCS). PHUs can currently deal with the contacts of 185 cases a day - up from 50 seven weeks ago - and the NCCS can make 10,000 close contact calls a day.
Some of the issues identified oversea with using applications range from not enough people downloading them, to privacy concerns, to the apps affecting phones' battery life.
