INTERNATIONAL CONSOTRIUM OFFERS HEALTH MONITORING SYSTEM FOR THE COVID-19 EPIDEMIC IN THE UK THROUGH REAL TIME ANALYSIS OF COVID VARIANTS BY WASTEWATER AND SURFACE COLLECTIONS
COVID-19 still actively circulating, and the threat is evolving as new variants appear. Local authorities in the UK require a tool to visualise the evolution of the epidemic, so that they can take appropriate measures to protect citizens and “sensitive” sites (nursing homes, hospitals, schools, nurseries or defence sites).
Today the concentration of COVID-19 in wastewater in local areas provides the earliest indicators for monitoring the epidemic, ahead of individual nasopharyngeal tests (approximately six days in advance). This collective, non-invasive, efficient method can provide a short-term forecast of the local risk of the epidemic. Based on real-time monitoring of the progression of each variant it can enable the local healthcare system to adapt and be prepared. Targeted at “sensitive” sites and critical infrastructures, it permits protecting the most vulnerable and maintaining critical sites in operation.
It is within this framework SICPA and OpenHealth, in cooperation with the NRBCE – COMETE unit of the Marseille Firefighters’ Battalion, are joining forces to offer a complete real-time decision management system in France. OpenHealth, is a leading French player in the collection, processing, and analysis of health data on behalf of the authorities, industry, and research organisations, SICPA, leader in secure traceability and authentication technologies.
This system could be deployed to provide the UK with an agile, sectorized capacity for action by identifying the emergence of potential clusters and taking appropriate, efficient measures e.g. a screening campaign within an establishment.
This solution is highly operational and can be immediately deployed within a few days anywhere internationally, including the UK. In addition to the daily epidemiological monitoring capacity, it enables highly localised actions to be taken at territory or neighbourhood level or for a healthcare centre or a specific sensitive site.
The system is comprehensive and adaptable. It includes a precise sampling protocol, a secure supply of test and analysis reagents and a platform for processing and reporting results in real time, accessible online 24/7 by the 
authorities.
The KSI® process integrity service based on the blockchain is integrated into the system to guarantee both the integrity of the data and the integrity of their processing process, thus ensuring complete traceability and auditability. This will enable authorities to make decisions with confidence, based on reliable data.
The value of this health monitoring system goes beyond the COVID-19 epidemic and it can also be used to monitor other pathogens.
