Measuring the effectiveness of an automated text messaging active surveillance system for COVID-19 in the south of Ireland, March to April 2020

Euro Surveill. 2020 Jun;25(23):2000972. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.23.2000972.

Abstract

We report the effectiveness of automated text messaging for active surveillance of asymptomatic close contacts of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the Cork/Kerry region of Ireland. In the first 7 weeks of the COVID-19 outbreak, 1,336 close contacts received 12,421 automated texts. Overall, 120 contacts (9.0%) reported symptoms which required referral for testing and 35 (2.6%) tested positive for COVID-19. Non-response was high (n = 2,121; 17.1%) and this required substantial clinical and administrative resources for follow-up.

Keywords: COVID-19; Ireland; active surveillance; outbreak control; public health.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Asymptomatic Infections*
  • Betacoronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • Clinical Laboratory Techniques
  • Contact Tracing*
  • Coronavirus Infections* / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections* / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections* / transmission
  • Coronavirus*
  • Disease Outbreaks / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Ireland / epidemiology
  • Pandemics* / prevention & control
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / transmission
  • Public Health Surveillance / methods*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Text Messaging*
  • Watchful Waiting