Webinar: COVID-19 contact tracing: the usefulness of mobile apps

To gain a better understanding of the different approaches of COVID-19 apps, SAPHIRe will host an online interactive workshop on Friday 9 October 2020 10h00-12h00 CET

Contact tracing is an important tool to control infectious diseases, and digital contact tracing, using mobile apps, could be an effective method in the fight against COVID-19 spreading. During and after the first COVID-19 wave, many governments and regional authorities are rolling out their contact tracing apps.

Ongoing discussion includes the uptake and adherence, accuracy, workability and privacy concerns of the COVID-19 contact tracing apps. How and by whom will these apps be used? How can regions ensure optimal prevention of COVID-19 spreading while safeguarding its citizens’ privacy?

The topics discussed at the webinar will include:

• Regional examples

• Privacy and security of contact tracing apps

• Public perception on the use of contact tracing apps

Confirmed speakers:

• Professor Bart Preneel, Department head of Computer Security and Industrial Cryptography (COSIC), KULeuven, Flanders, Belgium. Bart was involved in the development of the Decentralized Privacy-Preserving Proximity Tracing (DP-3T) protocol.

• Cathy Berx, Governor of the Province of Antwerp. Cathy took additional local measures in the Province of Antwerp to further limit the spread of the SARS-CoV2 virus.

• Antoni Rytel , Vice-president of GovTech, Poland, involved in the implementation of the Polish quarantine monitoring app and ProteGO Safe app.

• Dr Sarah Gibney, Senior Researcher, R & D and Health Analytics, Department of Health Ireland.

• Dr Eddie O’Neill, Consultant Medical Adviser, Health & Social Care Board Northern Ireland.

Webinar agenda

10.00 -10.10 Introduction + Aim of webinar (by Kathleen D’Hondt)

10.10 -10.25 Speaker 1: Bart Preneel (FL)

10.25 -10.40 Speaker 2: Cathy Berx (FL)

10.40 -10.55 Speaker 3: Antoni Rytel (PL)

10.55 -11.10 Mentimeter

11.10 - 11.25 Speaker 4: Sarah Gibney (ROI) 11.25 -11.40 Speaker 5: Edward O’Neill (NI)

11.40 -11.55 Discord feedback (by Mikolaj Gurdala)

11.55 -12:10 Mentimeter

12.10 -12.15 Conclusion

Register here to attend the webinar