COVID-19 arrived as if from nowhere, resulting in the deaths of millions. Lockdowns, vaccinations, and personal-protective equipment were all used to combat and curb the virus’ spread. However, technology also played a very significant role in stopping COVID-19. The world is now reopening, with international travel and public socializing being allowed again. In many ways, we have the technology to thank for this.
If you are interested and want to learn more about how technology helped to curb the spread of COVID-19, then we’ve got you covered. Here’re some advanced technologies that helped to defeat the virus:
UVC Sanitizers
Ultraviolet light is very effective at killing and eliminating viruses, including coronaviruses. It’s entirely possible for viruses to hitch a ride into peoples’ homes on their clothes, even on their shoes. Healthcare workers are required to use ultraviolet shoe sanitizing devices, which remove any germs or bacteria from their footwear.
According to the manufacturers of the Healthysole® PLUS sanitizer, UVC technology is up to 99.99% effective. It can eliminate germs and bacteria in as little as eight seconds. UVC sanitizing devices have helped to eliminate the spread of COVID-19, by ensuring that healthcare workers don’t bring it into the community on their clothes and footwear.
Testing
Testing technology allowed governments from around the world to identify people within their respective populations that had contracted the virus. This then, in turn, gave them the ability to force periods of isolation on the infected. Without testing technology, governments would have been unable to track the virus’ spread.
The ability to track the virus’ spread allowed them to identify how many new cases were appearing (and identify how many people had died). This then allowed governments to create graphs and charts which displayed whether or not cases were increasing or decreasing.
Tracing
Following on from a point made in the previous section, tracing people that had contracted the virus was very important. If governments weren’t able to trace members of their population that had contracted the virus, then they wouldn’t have been able to guarantee that they were indeed isolated.
In the United Kingdom, the “test and trace” service rolled out by the NHS proved to be extremely effective, with people having to stay in daily contact with NHS workers over the phone, confirming that they had not gone outside. The tracking technology used by the NHS was mimicked by many other nations and implemented.
Vaccinations
While vaccinations aren’t a type of technology, they were still helped along by technology. Without widespread vaccinations, the virus would have killed many more people than it did. Technology helped scientists to research and quickly develop safe and effective vaccinations for the virus.
The technology that helped researchers and scientists to create vaccinations is now being used to create vaccinations against other diseases. The type of vaccines that were rolled out in Western Europe and North America also relied on a technology called ‘mRNA technology.’
Self-Isolation
Self-isolation periods and enforced lockdowns wouldn’t have been possible without the help of modern technology. As already mentioned, technology helped to enforce lockdowns and track people that were breaking guidance. Additionally, CCTV was also used to track peoples’ movements if they were suspected of breaking lockdown rules and leaving their homes.
People that were essential workers (meaning they had to work, such as doctors and nurses), relied on technology and applications to bypass police roadblocks and get to work. If they didn’t have applications and technology to prove who they were, then they wouldn’t have been allowed out of their homes.
Data Analysation
Data analysis technology helps governments to analyze which demographics were most at risk from the virus. While to an extent, it’s common knowledge that viruses impact the health of the elderly and the unhealthy most, data analysis reinforced these beliefs. Every virus is different; every virus affects different groups of people more. Data technology allowed governments to study the death and infection rates, identifying who was more at risk from severe illness.
This then, in turn, allowed them to tailor their vaccination rollouts to specific demographics. In the United Kingdom, for example, the elderly and the immunocompromised were the first to be vaccinated.
Vaccine Passports
Finally, vaccine passports were made possible by advanced technology. Vaccine passports are used by governments around the world to determine whether or not a person can access their country, from abroad. If a person does not have a vaccine passport then, in many places, they are unable to enter. This helped to prevent infected people from entering countries.
COVID-19 has largely been beaten, although there’s always the risk that cases will spike again. The main reason that COVID-19 has been overcome is the worldwide vaccination rollout. Some countries that haven’t had effective vaccine rollouts are still battling COVID-19. If any future pandemics occur, the technology developed during the COVID-19 pandemic will definitely come in handy.
