RT Symptom Analysis

Start up a web portal country-wise where people are required to update weekly or at shorter intervals the following:

1)Their personal info like Name, Address, Contact number, etc. so an emergency response team can reach them

2)Symptom data like cough, fever, tiredness, difficulty breathing AND HOW LONG THESE HAVE PERSISTED

Using big data analytics one could then identify individuals with suspected infection WHO HAVE HAD THE SYMPTOMS IN EXCESS OF 7 DAYS

If the data is updated in real-time on the web portal by individuals countrywide it would then be possible to identify and isolate the individual/s immediately by the emergency response team. This appears to be a better strategy to random testing only in virus hot spots

This would serve two purposes:

1) Isolation of identified individuals would prevent further spread of the virus

2) The number of test kits required would come down to a practical viable number, considering there is currently a shortage of test kits, and would be a better alternative to random testing of individuals

Also governments need to work rapidly to sponsor and manufacture test-kits to meet the demand. After all prevention is better than cure.

The earlier this is implemented the better because

1) The number of infections is rising exponentially and once it reaches critical mass it would be difficult to control using above measures. This is because resources in terms of personnel, equipment and infrastructure would not be able to meet the demand to tackle infections

2) Once the pandemic is brought under control, it would allow the opening up of the global economy. It is rapidly approaching a point where any further delay would take most economies to a point from which recovery would be difficult