Regulating Electronic Means to Fight the Spread of COVID-19

Author: Javadikhomami

COVID-19 is a new virus which is caused by SARS-CoV-2. This new virus which has seemingly plagued the entire world has had a tremendous effect on Earth and the individuals which live on it. This new virus has sent the whole world into a frenzy and to the point where every individual on the planet fears for their life. This new virus has led to the deaths of 1.84 million individuals across the world with around 85 million cases worldwide[1]. The pandemic causing the COVID-19 virus will surely go down in history as a huge deficit to society.

As the entire world attempts to make sense of how the virus works and operates, methods to fight the spread of COVID-19 have taken place pre-vaccine, through interpersonal and intrapersonal means to disable the droplet and contact transmissions of the virus.

Interpersonally, the spread of COVID-19 has been fought through the use of 6 feet of distance between every individual in public, the lack of large gatherings, and the use of a mask in public which is used to block the spread of germs between persons[2]. Individually, there are many myths and facts about what can help cure or prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. These facts include the washing of hands to prevent the accumulation of germs, and the avoidance of touching your face, mouth, or nose[3]. The myths surrounding preventing the spread of COVID-19 include but are not limited to the consumption of vitamins and micronutrients to cure and prevent COVID-19, which has been stated by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be a myth because vitamins and micronutrients will only aid in the advancement of an individual’s immune system.

Many nations have adapted to the use of technology and electronic means to combat and measure the virus. The main countries which have done this include India, Iran, Argentine, Israel, Brazil, China, France, Italy, England, Australia, China, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, Iceland, Norway, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Japan, and Spain. Methods of using technology have included the creation of an electronic wristband specifically in South Korea which is used to administer self-quarantined orders for the individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19, Spain has administered mobile phone location for a similar purpose, and Norway has used telecommunication data in order to investigate if any individuals have violated quarantine restrictions through public transportation[4].

These electronic methods were very well orchestrated in the development of means to combat the spread of COVID-19 because these methods would not only motivate the individual to not be in a situation where they might cause the transmission of COVID-19 from one person to the other, but it is a method of which the government can make sure that the individuals are not putting any other individuals of society at risk for contracting the COVID-19 virus.

Any government that fails to control its population will no doubt be subject to the increase of COVID-19 cases and more deaths, thus the reduction of transmission of the COVID-19 disease is essential for the betterment of the health of a nation, which would require electronic means.

Many other nations have also used electronic means to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Specifically looking at Russia, the nation has implemented QR codes which have been used as tickets to use public transportation. The United Arab Emirates has implemented a rule which states that whoever receives a stay at home order has to self-quarantine and install a phone application that gives the respective authorities the exact location of the individuals who have been given orders to self-quarantine. Italy and Israel are two nations that have taken electronic means to a much higher level. Italy uses drones which are administered by the local police in order to make sure that the individuals in the population are socially distancing. Such an extreme measure is good, given that Italy has one of the largest numbers of cases per million population size[5].

Israel has taken measures such as using surveillance technologies of their security agencies in order to follow patients and who they have come to contact with in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 disease. This particular administration was only conducted from March 2020 to June 2020 because there were privacy concerns which were associated with this surveillance method. [6]

The use of electronics has been widely used in multiple nations in order to prevent the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. This method has seemingly been a very smart move as it reduces the amount of COVID-19 cases through increasing social distancing protocols. As vaccines are beginning to be handed out to the public, it should be noted that social distancing should still be practiced as a safety precaution given that lives could still be saved if proper regulations are not conducted.

References:

[1] Coronavirus Cases:” Worldometer, www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ [2] How to Protect Yourself & Others.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html [3] COVID-19 Mythbusters.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters [4] Global Legal Research Directorate staff, Law Library of Congress; Gesley. Regulating Electronic Means to Fight the Spread of COVID-19, 1 June 2020, www.loc.gov/law/help/coronavirus-apps/index.php [5] Italy Reports 347 Coronavirus Deaths on Sunday, 14,245 New Cases.” U.S. News & World Report, U.S. News & World Report, www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-01-01/italy-reports-462-coronavirus-deaths-on-friday-22-211-new-cases [6]Gesley, Jenny. “New Report on ‘Regulating Electronic Means to Fight the Spread of COVID-19’ Published.” New Report on "Regulating Electronic Means to Fight the Spread of COVID-19" Published | In Custodia Legis: Law Librarians of Congress, 8 July 2020, https://blogs.loc.gov/law/2020/07/new-report-on-regulating-electronic-means-to-fight-the-spread-of-covid-19-published/