Western nations are also following suit in leveraging tech-driven measures. Technology is playing a crucial role in mitigating the impact of the public health crisis—and its potential impact in the future is even greater.
However, this deployment is not without controversy. In China, for example, various journalists have pointed out that state surveillance and the erosion of data privacy rights challenge fundamental democratic principles.
While acknowledging these risks, Dilip Sarangan, an Internet of Things (IoT) expert at Frost & Sullivan, noted in a column that IoT-enabled tech solutions and services can help by "providing an early warning system to curb the spread of infectious diseases."
As widely understood, the Internet of Things refers to an interconnected ecosystem of systems, advanced data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), and ubiquitous connectivity. But how specifically can IoT help slow the spread of COVID-19? Sarangan outlines key short-term and long-term opportunities and recommendations:
"In the short term, monitoring 'at-risk' individuals as they pass through customs at airports and border crossings should continue. Deploying thermal scanners for all passengers is critical to detect elevated body temperatures and other symptoms. Recently, there has been a significant push to migrate IoT analytics capabilities from the cloud to the edge (directly on devices). This real-time intelligence can rapidly identify infected individuals to isolate them and prevent the further transmission of coronavirus."
"In the long term, the United Nations, the WHO, and other global agencies could seek consensus among governments worldwide to build an early detection network capable of identifying infectious diseases before they escalate into global health emergencies," Sarangan notes.
To explore this topic further, we recommend reading this expert's column and listening to his recent radio interview.