Remote Health Monitoring in the Workplace for Early Detection of COVID-19 Cases during the COVID-19 Pandemic Using a Mobile Health Application: COVIDApp

Patricia Echeverría, Jordi Puig, José María Ruiz, Jordi Herms, Maria Sarquella, Bonaventura Clotet and Eugenia Negredo
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Patricia Echeverría: Infectious Diseases Department & Lluita Contra la Sida Foundation, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, 08916 Badalona, Spain
Jordi Puig: Infectious Diseases Department & Lluita Contra la Sida Foundation, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, 08916 Badalona, Spain
José María Ruiz: Doolehealth S.L. Digital Health Department, 08500 Barcelona, Spain
Jordi Herms: Doolehealth S.L. Digital Health Department, 08500 Barcelona, Spain
Maria Sarquella: Infectious Diseases Department & Lluita Contra la Sida Foundation, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, 08916 Badalona, Spain
Bonaventura Clotet: Infectious Diseases Department & Lluita Contra la Sida Foundation, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, 08916 Badalona, Spain
Eugenia Negredo: Infectious Diseases Department & Lluita Contra la Sida Foundation, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, 08916 Badalona, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 19, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Background: COVIDApp is a platform created for management of COVID-19 in the workplace. Methods: COVIDApp was designed and implemented for the follow-up of 253 workers from seven companies in Catalonia. The assessment was based on two actions: first, the early detection and management of close contacts and potential cases of COVID-19, and second, the rapid remote activation of protocols. The main objectives of this strategy were to minimize the risk of transmission of COVID-19 infection in the work area through a new real-time communication channel and to avoid unnecessary sick leave. The parameters reported daily by workers were close contact with COVID cases and signs and/or symptoms of COVID-19. Results: Data were recorded between 1 May and 30 November 2020. A total of 765 alerts were activated by 76 workers: 127 green alarms (16.6%), 301 orange alarms (39.3%), and 337 red alarms (44.1%). Of all the red alarms activated, 274 (81.3%) were activated for symptoms potentially associated with COVID-19, and 63 (18.7%) for reporting close contact with COVID-19 cases. Only eight workers (3.1%) presented symptoms associated with COVID-19 infection. All of these workers underwent RT-PCR tests, which yielded negative results for SARS-CoV2. Three workers were considered to have had a risk contact with COVID-19 cases; only 1 (0.4%) asymptomatic worker had a positive RT-PCR test result, requiring the activation of protocols, isolation, and contact tracing. Conclusions: COVIDApp contributes to the early detection and rapid activation of protocols in the workplace, thus limiting the risk of spreading the virus and reducing the economic impact caused by COVID-19 in the productive sector. The platform shows the progression of infection in real time and can help design new strategies.

Keywords: COVID-19; health application; workplace; early detection; remote health monitoring (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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