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Science as a Human Endeavour (SHE): Development and Limitation

DEVELOPMENT OF IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY AND METHODS TO FIGHT
AGAINST COVID-19

Introduction
COVID-19 has largely impacted on countries to innovate and allow technology to be more accessible and low- Comment [VC1]: Covid-19 pandemic you mea
cost to help the countries against the pandemic. Due to the increasing numbers of transmission, the use of
technology has been strengthened and utilised in different ways. For instance, machine learning algorithms are Comment [VC2]: ??during the pandemic
used for planning and tracking COVID-19 cases and clinical management through the use of different tools such
as data sources and mobile phones (Whitelaw et al., 2020). COVIDSafe in Australia identifies people exposed Comment [VC3]: large out-breaks of the disea
to a close infected contact (Xiao & Fan, 2020). Additionally, thermal cameras in public spaces have developed Comment [VC4]: Covid Safe App?
to be one of the most used method for infection screening. The developed and improved technology has changed Comment [VC5]: Rephrase!
the methods and daily lives of how associations and the society operated, but there are limitations involved
which reduce its effectiveness.

Biological Concepts
COVID-19 is caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. The anatomy of the virus includes an enclosed RNA, spike
proteins and lipid membranes (Marshall, 2020). The genetic material allows it to replicate, and as the spike
hooks unfold and refold and hooks into the host’s cell, it collides the virus particle and cell together. A channel
is then formed where the viral genetic material is inserted into the cell (Scripps Research, 2020). It starts in the
lungs and damages the immune system which leads to long-term lung damage or death (Neuman, 2020).
Additionally, humans can be infected through contaminated objects as virus particles enter through the nasal and
oral cavity, as well as through close contacts with infected people through mouse and nose secretions (WHO,
2020). Comment [VC6]: Good! consider giving a brie
explaination on different strains of corona virus a
SHE: Development and Limitation how it is evolving!
Machine learning algorithms improved with identifying COVID-19 cases. I565t has provided real-time data of Comment [VC7]: Rephrase!
COVID-19 where the disease activity is being monitored and tracked (Whitelaw et al., 2020). Real-time data
occurs from migration maps, mobile phones, digital payment and social media and has been used by the Chinese Comment [VC8]: Recorded?
authorities to track the activity within the pandemic’s epicentre - Wuhan market. Machine learning models were
Comment [VC9]: cut and
developed from real-time data has assisted with forecasting and tracking regional transmission growth of
COVID-19. Additionally, small to large operators have developed apps, services and systems to track and detect Comment [VC10]: whtat about other countri
COVID-19 exposure (O’Neill, Ryan-Mosley & Johnson, 2020). Globally, there are many apps available to be Comment [VC11]: cut were
downloaded that claims to detect COVID-19 exposure to assist and alert the society’s safety against the disease
Comment [VC12]: to assist?
and predict transmission.
Comment [VC13]: covid-19 across the globe?
However, there are limits to using mobile phones for tracking the disease activity and could have an effect on Comment [VC14]: downloaded now,
society’s safety. For instance, a highly recommended app by the Australian government called COVIDSafe is a
Comment [VC15]: ?? may be another word?
tool which identifies any close contacts to the disease (Australian Government Department of Health, 2020).
Supposedly, this is to support and protect society; however, the Australian experts have noted the lack of Comment [VC16]: Rephrase!
transparency and responsiveness to privacy issues (O’Neill, Ryan-Mosley & Johnson, 2020). Researchers at Comment [VC17]: Missing cnnection here!
Oxford University (UK) state that an approximation of 60 per cent of the region would require the contact
tracing app for it to be effective (Whitelaw et al., 2020). Subsequently, due to privacy issues and being a
voluntary download, not all citizens would acquire the app, which damages its purpose and effectiveness. It is
also not guaranteed that all relevant exposure is going to be identified, as individuals may not always have their
mobile phones (Whitelaw et al., 2020).

Moreover, screening for possible COVID-19 cases has been widely arranged in public spaces which developed
new strategies to help identify potential infection, including the use of digital thermometers at entries and high
performance infrared thermal cameras. To illustrate, people in Singapore have been measuring temperatures in Comment [VC18]: Consider rephrasing!
entrances of shops, public transport, schools and workplaces (Whitelaw et al., 2020). The data collected from
these thermometers are identified to find developing hot spots of infection. Additionally, USA has private Comment [VC19]: Combine as one sentence
companies that use digital thermometers which collect real-time data on fevers can detect COVID-19 emerging
outbreaks (Whitelaw et al., 2020). The technology of thermal imaging has developed in the economy as one of Comment [VC20]: ?? is it correct word here?
the latest devices to reduce the threat of the disease (CBS News, 2020). Thermal cameras have been widely set
in high-density foot traffic, including shopping centres, airports, nursing homes and other workplaces. This is
used as an alternative to close-contact temperature checkers such as mercury thermometers and other infrared
devices to test for tympanic temperatures (Thomas & Laing, 2020). Comment [VC21]: missing a link here!

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Regardless of being reliable and convenient, these systematic screening technologies have limitations. Although
thermal cameras are easily operated and reliable, it is not necessarily accurate considering that the temperature
check targets the correct area of the person’s face. If done otherwise, this can cause misleading outcomes and
incorrect hot spots, or a missed infection (Thomas & Laing, 2020). On the contrary of close-contact temperature
checkers, these high-performance technologies are expensive and require training to be used which limit it to
certain countries. It also limits on who can be detected, as the incubation period of minor symptoms and
asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 limit the effectiveness of these devices (Whitelaw et al., 2020). Comment [VC22]: Consider combining both
devlopment paragraphs together and both
These methods using different technology has allowed certain countries to have low per-capita mortality rates limitation paragraphs together
from COVID-19 and has allowed the society to have increased security against COVID-19. Comment [VC23]: consider moving this
sentence towards the last part of development
Future Impacts paragraphs
With further development, screening devices can improve on its accuracy. Technology could become a larger
business such as thermal cameras, especially with the purpose of minimising the effects of infectious diseases
and identifying potential cases. This will assist in handling COVID-19 and disease outbreaks. For developing Comment [VC24]: future disease outbreaks
countries, high-performance technology is expensive, therefore it could influence the development of screening
Comment [VC25]: consider a rearrangment o
technologies that does not require close contact to be made affordable. Development and innovation of sentences here!
technology will contribute towards the effectiveness of detecting infection cases early, and therefore,
maintaining the well-being of the society.

Conclusion
The integration of the development of improved technology and methods has allowed many countries to obtain
control and flatten the COVID-19 case numbers. The utilisation of technology and data collection has improved
the tracing and identification of infectious cases and allow early clinical management which assists with
minimising the threat of the transmission of COVID-19 to the living society. However, these methods and
digital technologies have limitations are not always deemed accurate and effective which poses a danger to the
safety of the society and the reliability of results. In addition, it is not available to all countries, especially Comment [VC26]: to
developing countries. With further development of these methods and technology, managing disease outbreaks
could become easier and made readily available.

Word count: 1000 Words (Excluding in-text referencing and sub-headings)

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REFERENCES

Australian Government Department of Health 2020, COVIDSafe app, viewed 15 September 2020,
<https://www.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/covidsafe-app#get-the-app>.

CBS News 2020, Thermal imaging cameras could play ‘critical role’ in keeping people safe from COVID-19,
viewed 14 September 2020, <https://www.cbsnews.com/news/thermal-imaging-cameras-coronavirus/>.

Marshall, M 2020, We’re beginning to understand the biology of the covid-19 virus, New Scientist, viewed 10
September 2020, <https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24532743-500-were-beginning-to-
understand-the-biology-of-the-covid-19-virus/>.

Neuman, B 2020, What the coronavirus does to your body that makes it so deadly, The Conversation, viewed 12
September 2020, <https://theconversation.com/what-the-coronavirus-does-to-your-body-that-makes-it-
so-deadly-133856>.

O’Neill P, Ryan-Mosley T & Johnson B 2020 A flood of coronavirus apps are tracking us. Now it’s time to
keep track of them., MIT Technology Review, viewed 14 September 2020,
<https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/05/07/1000961/launching-mittr-covid-tracing-tracker/>.

Scripps Research 2020, What are the parts of a coronavirus?, viewed 12 September 2020,
<https://www.scripps.edu/covid-19/faqs/parts-of-a-coronavirus/>.

Thomas, R & Laing, H 2020, Thermal cameras aren’t perfect, but they can help control the coronavirus
pandemic, The Conversation, viewed 14 September 2020, <https://theconversation.com/thermal-
cameras-arent-perfect-but-they-can-help-control-the-coronavirus-pandemic-141701>.

Whitelaw, S, Mamas, MA, Topol, E & Van Spall, HGC 2020, Applications of digital technology in COVID-19
pandemic planning and response, The Lancet Digital Health, vol. 2, no. 8, pp. e435–e440, viewed 13
September 2020, <https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landig/article/PIIS2589-7500(20)30142-
4/fulltext>.

WHO - World Health Organization 2020, How is COVID-19 transmitted? 2018, viewed 12 September 2020,
<https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-how-is-covid-19-transmitted>.

Xiao, Y & Fan Z 2020, COVID-19: 10 tech trends getting us through the pandemic, World Economic Forum,
viewed 12 September 2020, <https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/10-technology-trends-
coronavirus-covid19-pandemic-robotics-telehealth/>.

Samantha Duldulao BIOLOGY Stage 1