During this pandemic of COVID-19, digital technologies assisted in different aspects of public health from surveillance, contact tracing, prevention, and treatment. For that different software, mobile and computers are used. The initial phase of COVID-19 treatment is mostly focused on supportive treatment and many countries are practicing telemedicine by performing consultation via video conferencing. This helps to reduce the COVID cases by preventing the healthcare facilities from being over-crowded. But in developing countries, there is a lot to be done in capacity building for preparedness which includes the development of infrastructure, proper training, and development of plans.

In my opinion, the application that my country still needs improvement is the contract tracing system. We use to rely on self-report and self check-in systems (“Thai Chana” for self check-in when going into the mall, shop or restaurant) for recording time and places that the person visited. If there was a positive COVID-19 case in that area at the same time, the app would have the data and warn the users about the risk. However, this system is often ignored by the user by not using it (not scanning QR code while going into the area) due to the complicated process and mistrust of the application. The contact tracing system should be easy and need no complicated steps to check-in. For instance, instead of manually scanning the QR code for check-in, the system can be changed to Bluetooth proximity detection from the user’s device to automatically collect the contact data. This method is easier and more reliable compares to self check-in.

The covid information system in Indonesia is quite complete, and several applications used:
1. New All record (NAR) to record laboratory tests (PCR)
2. SILACAK to record the results of contact tracing
3. Peduli-lindungi as an individual health passport to record vaccine status, latest laboratory examination results, and travel data

What still needs to be improved is to enter the results of the RDT examination into the New All record to obtain the results of the PCR and RDT examinations. To increase vigilance, as in Thailand, Indonesia needs to conduct sentinel surveillance at several locations and carry out periodic screening at these locations. So that early detection can be done if there are signs of increasing cases.

Under the COVID-19 pandemic, the utilization of digital communication in healthcare should be emphasized more in the communication between healthcare providers and people, enabling treatment, diagnosis, self-management support, surveillance, and psychological intervention without face-to-face contact by cases that can be managed at home or under quarantine, which could also protect health facilities from being overwhelmed.

The application of centralized helplines for COVID-19 information in Thailand is needed to improve. During the outbreak, this central helpline shows only the information of the number of the infected rate, hospitalized rate, and death rate. Essential information on how to self-management and prevent spreading to others is lacking. For example, the correct management on how to clean environment near infected cases is not reached to the community. Different methods were used which are not effective and cause harmful side effects. And there are many hotlines to call when people get an infection. They have to call each hotline to get treatment due to insufficient operators. This situation should be solved by providing a single hotline that has sufficient manpower according to the demand.

Of all the digital technologies mentioned, our contact tracing is notably the most important aspect of handling this pandemic that needs improvement by a lot. In my previous topic discussions, I have mentioned how the national contact tracing app became the least effective tool in managing COVID-19. We don’t know how the application feeds the collected information into surveillance data. Our contact tracing has reverted back to manual contact tracing with pen and paper and/or physical/virtual visits to conduct interview among those who got infected.

I believe that contact tracing, along with mass testing, are the fundamental activities that should be undertaken in this time of pandemic. Effective contact tracing mitigates/eliminates community transmissions of the disease; thereby, ultimately decreasing the reproduction number of COVID-19.

In my opinion, Indonesia needs to improve the psychological intervention for the quarantined people. Mental health is important since it is also affected the well-being of a person. As stated in the paper, being in lockdown or quarantine has been known to have psychological impact which are feeling anger, confusion, frustration, fear, and symptoms resembling post-traumatic disorder. A support from the government to overcome this can also help the Covid-19 survivors to recover faster. The form of the support can be provide counselling or link individuals from the same neighborhood to form a support group. The support group meeting can be held online or if offline, held in an outdoor place and doing proper health protocol to minimize the risk of getting Covid-19.

I also agree that the application of centralized helplines for COVID-19 information in Thailand is needed to improve. I would like to focus on call hotline for help/consult after get infection. Most newly diagnosed patients found it is difficult to contact the admin/HCPs via hotlines, I guess it is due to lack of manpower and system management. It can delay the treatment and people will live with concerns while waiting for the suggestion and available bed at home. Some people end up contacting each hospital individually for help. Also, the data connectivity and management plan is also needed to improve such as connecting patients data with nearest hospital or contacting to the organization who can provide necessary resources (medication and food) to patients while waiting at home.

There are two major problems in Thailand in terms of the implementation of Digital health during COVID-19.
– Contact tracing
Contact tracing used to be an innovation in public health surveillance. The use of mobile phones and their technology pave the way for tracing COVID-19 patients. This hope comes shortly because of lacking government trust and being ignored by users.
– Centralized case management
Thailand has a large population of displaced workers due to inequality of opportunity between different regions. This leads to a burden on healthcare institutes in the area, which has many displaced workers. Patients in this dense area need to be treat back home, far away from their work areas. Lacking efficient centralized case management makes an attempted alleviate burden of crowded hospital failed.

I agree with many idea above that contact tracing system in Thailand should be more strengthen. The system may have not enough user-friendly and applicable for every user. The warning system should be more trustworthy and seriously alarm to every people at risk. Moreover, the proper announcement and public relations should be provided continuously to raise people’s awareness and make the contact tracing sign-in to be habitude.

In my opinion, teleconsultation technology still has room for development, as you can see in the period of high contracted cases, which overwhelm the public health system. The home isolation strategies had been used; however, this strategy had a problem because some patients’ symptoms were rapidly progressing, and the patient could not promptly reach the proper consultation and treatment. So, if we could build the fundamental technology that facilitates teleconsultation and provide the channel for the patient to receive treatment earlier, it would leverage the home isolation treatment in the future.

In my opinion, Contact tracing is a technology that Thailand should be improve.
Thailand main application for contact tracing is MorPhrom that use QR code as a method to collect data. QR code sometimes is not a comfortable way to be done and MorPhrom is ignored by people maybe caused by many factors, such as weak regulation and not everyone has their own mobile phone. It would be good if Thailand has technology that can trace people spontaneously or by action of government officers. However, privacy is another important issue involved in development of contact tracing systems.

Home-Based Diagnosis and Screening also a problem in Thailand. The government did not provide proper knowledge and material to do home-based diagnosis and screening. This may caused in reporting less casese than reality.

In the context of Thailand, I think we need to strengthen the centralized helplines for COVID-19 information. We don’t have a main helplines with the support from the government so the helplines are various in numbers and hard to find the reliable helpline. Plus, there are also misunderstandings of COVID-19 and misinformation from social media. The existing helplines in Thailand are not able to meet the demand of people.