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We agree with Adrian O’Dowd’s piece on the use of this Covid-19 tracking app to alert individuals on their proximity to people who have tested positive. This app has versatility, multiple features, and an ease of use which can allow it to be implemented on a global scale (A., 2020). Thompson. S. said, “This new version is so much more than just a contact tracing app. It has a range of features that will quickly alert you if you’re at risk of coronavirus (NHS Covid-19 app for England and Wales, n.d.).”
As much as we are in favor of the app, it cannot be brushed off that the age range (16 or above) does not encompass teens and minors below age 16 yrs. Kids travel daily, interact with peers, and eat out which exposes them to the virus and maybe asymptomatic. Zara-Zardine et al discovered that children may have less severe symptoms than adults due to the immaturity of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors, which are the site for covid-19 binding (Zardini, 2019). Research by Ding. Y. et al supports the claim that children can be asymptomatic and potentially spread the virus among their families and communities. “More than 80% of children with confirmed COVID-19 were family cluster cases, and more than 30% of them were asymptomatic. These findings have paramount implications for our social and public health policies. (Ding, 2020)”
Therefore, we suggest that a wearable device (smart band/smartwatch) can be used and attached to their parent’s mobile devices, for forwarding alerts on their child’s distance to Covid-19 positive people. In this manner, parents can take the necessary precautions such as isolation of the kid who has been exposed.
References
A., O. (2020). Covid-19: App to track close contacts is launched in England and Wales. BMJ.
Ding, Y. Y. (2020). Clinical Chracteristics of Children with Covid-19: A Meta- Analysis. Frontier of Pediatrics. doi:: 10.3389/fped.2020.00431
NHS Covid-19 app for England and Wales. (n.d.). Retrieved from NHS: https://covid19.nhs.uk/
Zardini, Z. e. (2019). Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) in Children: Prevalence, Diagnosis, Clinical Symptoms and treatment. International Journal of Medicine, 477- 482.
Competing interests:
No competing interests
18 November 2020
Marvin Ryan Duncan
Registered Nurse
Josephine Matthew, Usman Iqbal
Taipei Medical University - Global Health and Development
What About Kids Covid-19 Contact Tracing?
Dear Editor
We agree with Adrian O’Dowd’s piece on the use of this Covid-19 tracking app to alert individuals on their proximity to people who have tested positive. This app has versatility, multiple features, and an ease of use which can allow it to be implemented on a global scale (A., 2020). Thompson. S. said, “This new version is so much more than just a contact tracing app. It has a range of features that will quickly alert you if you’re at risk of coronavirus (NHS Covid-19 app for England and Wales, n.d.).”
As much as we are in favor of the app, it cannot be brushed off that the age range (16 or above) does not encompass teens and minors below age 16 yrs. Kids travel daily, interact with peers, and eat out which exposes them to the virus and maybe asymptomatic. Zara-Zardine et al discovered that children may have less severe symptoms than adults due to the immaturity of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors, which are the site for covid-19 binding (Zardini, 2019). Research by Ding. Y. et al supports the claim that children can be asymptomatic and potentially spread the virus among their families and communities. “More than 80% of children with confirmed COVID-19 were family cluster cases, and more than 30% of them were asymptomatic. These findings have paramount implications for our social and public health policies. (Ding, 2020)”
Therefore, we suggest that a wearable device (smart band/smartwatch) can be used and attached to their parent’s mobile devices, for forwarding alerts on their child’s distance to Covid-19 positive people. In this manner, parents can take the necessary precautions such as isolation of the kid who has been exposed.
References
A., O. (2020). Covid-19: App to track close contacts is launched in England and Wales. BMJ.
Ding, Y. Y. (2020). Clinical Chracteristics of Children with Covid-19: A Meta- Analysis. Frontier of Pediatrics. doi:: 10.3389/fped.2020.00431
NHS Covid-19 app for England and Wales. (n.d.). Retrieved from NHS: https://covid19.nhs.uk/
Zardini, Z. e. (2019). Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) in Children: Prevalence, Diagnosis, Clinical Symptoms and treatment. International Journal of Medicine, 477- 482.
Competing interests: No competing interests