Mass use of contact tracing app will save lives

Data not collected, privacy protected, write Asha Hollis and Alex Corrigan.

Alberta Health has released a new contact tracing app, Abtracetogether. This true story demonstrates why you should download it:

Phil works in a Calgary warehouse. He carpools to work because he doesn’t drive. Two weeks ago, Phil woke up with a scratchy throat and a runny nose. With no fever or cough, he took a Tylenol and went to work. The next morning, when Phil’s symptoms worsened, he phoned 811 and was shocked to eventually test positive for COVID-19.

A contact tracer asked

Phil where he had been and whom he had seen during the 48 hours prior to symptom onset. He explained he was socially distancing, wearing masks at work, and had been in contact only with his girlfriend and carpool buddies. Unfortunately, he didn’t have last names or numbers of those in the car. To identify exposed contacts, the tracer reached out to Phil’s boss. Because of this tracing, close contacts self-isolated and an outbreak was averted. (Names and details changed for confidentiality.)

Thanks to our public health team, there are many stories with similar positive outcomes. Contact tracing in Alberta has significantly reduced COVID-19 transmission, preventing infections and saving lives.

However, this process is challenging. First, for successful tracing, individuals must remember with whom they have interacted. Second, in public environments such as workplaces or public transit, it can be impossible to know who might have been exposed. Social distancing restricts viral spread and reduces fear of infection by limiting interactions, but plans to reopen Alberta may heighten these concerns for many.

How can we return to a life without these fears? South Korea has shown us that it is possible. When faced with rapidly rising cases, South Korea implemented aggressive contact tracing, and completely altered its trajectory of infections, reducing new cases per day from about 900 to about 10. On April 30, it reported no new cases. Similarly, fatalities are a fraction of those in other countries, including Canada.

South Korea’s success lies in digital contact tracing. Through mandatory

GPS phone tracking, they monitored when individuals came into contact with others, enabling phone alerts for anyone exposed to an infected individual. This system prevented a nationwide lockdown. Additionally, South Korea implemented other essential public health measures, including rigorous COVID-19 testing.

Alberta follows closely in many of these measures: our diligent contact tracers are tracking cases, and our COVID-19 testing rates are among the highest globally. However, to enhance contact tracing, Alberta Health launched Abtracetogether, a COVID-19 contact tracing app.

There are two important differences from the South Korean system. First, Abtracetogether does not utilize GPS tracking; neither Alberta Health nor the government of Alberta will have any data about users’ locations. Rather, the app uses Bluetooth to detect when users come into close contact with other users. During a time of mass surveillance, some have concerns relating to privacy. However, Alberta Health reassures users that privacy is protected since location data is not collected, and Bluetooth data is anonymized and encrypted, meaning that the government cannot access users’ interactions without permission.

Second, Abtracetogether is voluntary. However, for the system to work and facilitate sustained reopening, a high participation rate is essential. Mass use of the app could both help save lives and facilitate sustained reopening, similar to South Korea. Without systematic tracking, sporadic outbreaks causing more illness and renewed restrictions are increasingly likely.

A remarkable aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic is the rejuvenated sense of civic duty. Albertans have made enormous sacrifices, including loss of jobs, postponed surgeries and isolation; many risk infection by working in essential services. Downloading this app is simple and quick but could have widespread and meaningful benefits. With Abtracetogether, we can collectively reduce COVID-19 infections, protect our loved ones, help sustain a more normal life, and make #Albertaproud.

Asha Hollis is a medical and master of science (neurosciences) student in the Leaders in Medicine Program at the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary. Alex Corrigan is a medical student in the Cumming School of Medicine, past president of the Calgary Medical Students’ Association and a volunteer contact tracer.