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UC Associate Professor in Health and Medical Geography, Dr Malcolm Campbell

Associate Professor in Health and Medical Geography at the 麻豆传媒高清,听Dr Malcolm Campbell听says that relying on smartphone-based approaches involves some big assumptions and we need to carefully consider what our assumptions are.

鈥淭here are 5 main measures we have to eliminate COVID-19; isolation, contact tracing, quarantine, social distancing and hygiene measures,鈥� Assoc Prof Campbell says.

鈥淐ontact tracing is vital. So is the current lockdown. So, we need a range of virus response weapons, particularly as we don鈥檛 quite know yet if we are 鈥渇lattening the curve鈥�. What is key to get a grip on the pandemic is that we need to be sure that the infection is slowing or ultimately stopped. This means an infected person infects one person or less. Then, the epidemic will start to head towards elimination. The more we follow the guidance, the higher the chances of this happening.鈥�

What use are big data or smartphone apps?

鈥淚t looks like there is the possibility of adding some apps and tech smarts to our COVID-19 arsenal of weapons. We can use mobile phone data to see if people are indeed staying home (#stayhome), whether it is sunny or rainy. But, 鈥榚ducating鈥� people on social distancing can be hard work. Other countries, for example, Singapore, have used an app on mobile phones with Bluetooth for 鈥榬eal-time鈥� contact tracing.

鈥淪o let鈥檚 just imagine you鈥檝e been out walking about (in your local area) with a smartphone in your handbag, pocket or wherever, the data that is collected from Bluetooth signals can be used to see if you have come into contact with somebody else who has COVID-19. Now, here is the really important bit, assuming you are alerted to this important information, that someone you came into contact with has COVID-19, you鈥檒l then need to self-isolate. This requires high public trust and buy-in. It also requires people to get tested when they think they might have COVID-19.

鈥淭here are also three other important considerations which are really key; you need to have a smartphone with you, with the right app, with the Bluetooth turned on. If not, our clever solutions fall over. We know from previous research using technology in a healthcare setting, that not everyone has smartphones 鈥� often those with health challenges as well as some groups of older people. As long as these people stay isolated, the risk is mitigated, but still, we cannot assume that technology is 100% effective and will save us all.鈥�

Has New 麻豆传媒高清 any unique advantages, as the virus doesn't appear to have spread as widely here as in other countries?

鈥淣ew 麻豆传媒高清 is an island nation, reasonably well isolated geographically. But, I don鈥檛 think the virus cares about that. We also have a smaller population than the similarly sized United Kingdom, so our population densities are generally lower. Compare London, Birmingham and Greater Manchester to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

鈥淲e need to be really careful about looking for magical technological solutions to solve everything. The lockdown is tough medicine, but a runaway pandemic is worse, especially for those in our communities who really need our protection from the virus right now. We still need to try and 鈥榮tamp it out鈥� wherever we are in NZ.鈥�

For further information please contact:

Health and Medical Geography听Associate Professor听Malcolm Campbell, Deputy Director of the GeoHealth Laboratory and Founder of the Regional Analytics Lab,听, 麻豆传媒高清, email:听Malcolm.Campbell@canterbury.ac.nz听, Phone: 03 369 4181, Twitter: @CampbellMH