Learning from the initial deployment of digital contact tracing apps
Chiara Poletto, Pierre‐Yves Boëlle · The Lancet Public Health · 2022
Smartphone applications for digital contact tracing were a truly innovative intervention in the COVID-19 pandemic. These apps aim to automatically identify and rapidly notify individuals who have been in close contact with people who have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. These apps were deployed in many countries in record time to support or complement traditional contact tracing systems. Epidemiological models showed the potential impact of this intervention under specific epidemic conditions,1–3 but months into the apps' deployment, real-world evaluations are now required to identify shortcomings and look for improvements.