Category: Technology
Case Study: CRUSH COVID RI
Problem
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How does a small state stop a huge threat to public health?
The world is in the throes of a pandemic that threatens our lives and livelihoods. The only tools we have to fight it are social distancing, hand washing, and contact tracing. The first two are relatively easy, but the third is much harder due to participation and privacy concerns.
Human Insight
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As much as they want a cure, people also want control.
In the chaos of COVID-19, people are craving a sense of control and clarity—a simple, concrete way to protect themselves and their community. But they’re still understandably protective of their information and privacy.
Solution
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Give Rhode Islanders a tool to crush COVID, while spreading hope to other parts of the country.
WONGDOODY and Infosys Public Services partnered with the state of Rhode Island to develop CRUSH COVID RI, a simple, privacy-first contact tracing mobile app. Key functionality of the HIPAA-compliant CRUSH COVID RI app includes a log for symptom history, a map of nearby testing centers, and a digital location diary that will help contact tracing if the user tests positive. A location and symptom diary also filters data into a larger database and correlates with outbreaks, while explicit user consent throughout means no patient information is shared.
And since we know the more people who use this app, the more successful it will be, WONGDOODY and Infosys Public Services are making this technology available to universities and other high-population communities to help fight the spread of the disease. A social media campaign and a tutorial video will round out the effort, letting students and others know how easy it is to get the app, and how the ability to Crush COVID is in their freshly washed hands.
Quote from former RI Governor Gina Raimondo:
“We have been asking Rhode Islanders to keep a diary of who they come into contact with each day,” said former Governor Raimondo. “Especially now, as we begin the process of reopening our state, this type of contact tracing is critical to identifying and slowing the spread of the virus. Thanks to the generous work of our partners at Infosys, we now have a tool at our fingertips to do just that. I encourage all Rhode Islanders to download this app and be proactive in crushing COVID-19.”
