COVID-19: Group testing and digital technology “Aarogya Setu” - the need of the hour

Abstract

The importance of group testing, efficient utilization of the diagnostic tests and its applications are highlighted. Though it has advantages, the challenges and constraints and the need for the policy from the concerned authorities to implement group testing in a reliable manner with competent persons were brought out. Thus, with group testing and the use of digital technology “Aarogya Setu” in India, we are confident that we will be able to diagnose cases and implement surveillance activities successfully. Popularization of “Aarogya Setu” by all categories of healthcare workers, teachers, women self help groups and other users of android mobile phones in the interest of the Nation and community at large, towards disease containment were cited. However, the ethical aspects of deployment of such kind of approach as part of a multidimensional public health response, and its usefulness in infectious disease outbreaks have to be monitored.