Viruses: Czechs test the use of personal data to curb the epidemic

The Czech authorities are testing a computer system quickly tracing, thanks to data including telephony, the contacts that have had of people infected with the new coronavirus, in order to stop its spread, a spokeswoman for the group said on Tuesday. origin of this initiative.

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The solution proposed by a group of IT experts, Covid19cz, uses data from mobile phones and bank cards of people tested positive, to show their movements, always with their consent.

" This generates a map showing (...) for example that someone spent half an hour at the corner of such and such a street, " Covid19cz spokeswoman Irena Zatloukalova told AFP.

“ The health inspector can ask a person (sick), if he has met such or such other, in order to identify people likely to be infected. People will no longer have to just rely on their memories and have to remember what they have done in the past two weeks , ”she said.

Under this “ smart quarantine ” system, tested in a region in the south-east of the Czech Republic, people who have been in contact with a patient will then be placed in brief quarantine for a maximum of three days, until that they undergo a Covid-19 disease test.

“ If they are negative, they can go back to their daily lives. If they are positive, they will be placed in full quarantine , "said deputy health minister Roman Prymula on the government website. According to Ms. Zatloukalova, Great Britain, Lithuania, Serbia, Slovakia but also Latin American countries have expressed their interest in the IT solution.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis said he hoped the system would be launched nationwide by April 12. The Czech Republic, an EU member country of 10.7 million, has registered 3,002 confirmed virus cases, including 24 deaths.

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The government closed borders, schools, pubs, theaters and most stores. The containment measures for the population were extended Monday until April 11.