Digital technologies are being used worldwide to help in the fight against COVID-19. Many countries have employed digital technologies to identify cases, communicate and trace individuals at risk, and to inform health and other public policy responses. Online platforms such as the Coronavirus worldometer [1]and the SAcoronavirus [2] websites have played a critical role in disseminating global as well as country-specific statistics. Many countries have additional websites that provide similar information on new cases, active cases, recoveries, and death rates, and are updated daily. This not only helps government and policymakers make informed decisions about resourcing and capacity utilization of public health resources and finances, but also allows ordinary citizens to stay informed about high risk areas.
The World Health Organisation, in partnership with Facebook and WhatsApp, launched a messaging service on 21 March 2020, providing users with real time information relating to COVID-19. South African users can text the WhatsApp hotline and receive automated responses informing them of symptoms to be aware of, the nearest hospital and testing facilities, as well as updated statistics on infection rates and high-risk zones.
In addition, the COVID Alert SA app, launched on 1 September 2020, is a contact tracing application that uses Bluetooth technology to inform users if they have been in close contact with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days. The application can be downloaded by both Android and Apple users on their respective app stores. The South African Department of Health has taken various measures to ensure that the app is accessible to everyone by making it free, ensuring that minimal data is required to check in with a central server, and by allowing users to anonymously update their status on the app[3].
The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated the importance of digital technologies in ensuring effective communication and management during health crises. While the South African government has been quick to respond and adapt to the use of various technologies in managing the pandemic, there are still many factors that need to be carefully considered. These include potential legal, privacy, and ethical implications relating to data protection, existing inequalities arising from the digital divide, as well as the effects of data-sharing on private and public health care systems. Perhaps as a result of the pandemic, and through the rapid deployment and testing of these technologies, we can find ways to address these concerns and enhance the delivery of future health services.