How a Smartphone App and Contact Tracing Helped Keep UArizona Open and Curb COVID-19 Spread

How a Smartphone App and Contact Tracing Helped Keep UArizona Open and Curb COVID-19 Spread Statistics show relatively high usage rates for UArizona ' s exposure notification app, which helped curb the spread of the virus on campus. Public health experts say the digital strategy worked well because it was used in conjunction with traditional contact tracing, in addition to testing and isolation efforts. Mikayla Mace Today University Communicationsreturn to campus.jpg Students returning to campus in August. Chris RichardsHealthCOVID-19 Media contact(s)Mikayla Mace Science Writer, University Communicationsmikaylamace@arizona.edu520-621-1878 Researcher contact(s)Kacey Ernst Department of Epidemiology and Biostatisticskernst@email.arizona.edu520-626-7374Joanna Masel Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biologymasel@u.arizona.edu520-626-9888Kristen Pogreba-Brown Department of Epidemiology and Biostatisticskpogreba@email.arizona.edu520-626-3076Since the University of Arizona launched Covid Watch Arizona – ananonymous COVID-19 exposure notification app– in August, the app has had relatively high download and usage rates, and university analysts estimate that it may have helped reduce the average number of people infected on campus by 12%.Masel, Joanna.png Joanna Masel" That estimated 12% reduction in transmission matters. If you can get R(t) (the average number of people infected by a positiveperson) to drop from 1.06 to .94, that translates from exponential...
Source: The University of Arizona: Health - Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: Source Type: research