COVID-19 tracing apps ineffective in curbing virus transmission? Read what study says

After widespread of COVID-19, a number of COVID-19 contact tracing apps were released. But recent reports claim that se contact tracing apps will fail to contain virus if proper public health control measures such as physical distancing and closure of indoor s are t followed thoroughly. Read more to kw or details about COVID19 contact tracing apps. 

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Are COVID-19 contact tracing apps effective?

As per proper review that was published in journal Lancet Digital Health, effectiveness of automated contact tracing systems is currently very limited. A research was conducted about same and suggested that a large-scale manual contact tracing would be more efficient after or public health control measures -- such as physical distancing and closure of indoor s are taken care of. y also mentioned that se measures would be done in conjunction with some automated approaches.

Lead author Isobel Braithwaite from University College London spoke to PTI and said, "Across a number of modelling studies, we found a consistent picture that although automated contact tracing could support manual contact tracing, systems will require large-scale uptake by population and strict adherence to quarantine advice by contacts tified to have a significant impact on reducing transmission.”

This was done after reviewing 4,033 papers that were published between January 2000 and April 2020. This allowed researchers to identify 15 papers with useful data.

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Isobel Braithwaite also mentioned, "Although automated contact tracing shows some promise in helping reduce transmission of COVID-19 within communities, our research highlighted urgent need for furr evaluation of se apps within public health practice.” 

Robert Aldridge from UCL Institute of Health Informatics also spoke to PTI and said, "We currently do t have good evidence about wher a tification from a smartphone app is as effective in breaking chains of transmission by giving advice to isolate due to contact with a case of COVID-19 when compared to advice provided by a public health contact tracer.”

He added, "We urgently need to study this evidence gap and examine how automated approaches can be integrated with existing contact tracing and disease control strategies, and generate evidence on wher se new digital approaches are cost-effective and equitable. Too much reliance on automated contact tracing apps may also increase risk of Covid-19 for vulnerable and digitally-excluded groups such as older people and people experiencing homelessness.”

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