ITIHAS system to help improve surveillance, contact tracing

New Delhi: In a bid to improve its contact tracing and surveillance of corona positive cases, Delhi will soon be using ITIHAS system, coupled with Arogya Setu app. As per the recommendations from the ministry of health and family welfare, a new plan has been put in place to strengthen the Covid-19 surveillance response.

As per the orders issued by Dr Nutan Mundeja, the director general of health services in Delhi on Monday, all the chief district medical officers and surveillance officers of all eleven districts have received a revised response plan under which use of Arogya Setu and ITIHAS system for cluster projection forms a key component.

A senior official said that Arogya Setu app and ITIHAS system will be used together to monitor the corona cases. “As per the recommendation of the committee headed by Niti Ayog member Prof VK Paul, Arogya Setu, app coupled with ITIHAS system anchored by the ministry of electronics and information technology, is capable of tracking the movement of the cases and their contacts. The system is capable of projecting a cluster development in 300 metre geography,” the plan states.

The directions point out that the surveillance system will be guided by an IT-driven tool at district and state-level hubs. A senior corporation official said that they are yet to receive the detailed plan, but municipal epidemiologists will be part of teams to guide the surveillance at district-level hubs. Identified teams of epidemiologists, district surveillance officers and IT personnel will be trained to utilise this twin system for cluster projection.

“ITIHAS system is app-based and we are working on its implementation at the district-level. This is expected to significantly improve containment zone management,” said a senior government official.

At present, containment of Covid is monitored by the district task force under the chairmanship of the district magistrate. “Now, the committee will also include DCP, DC from corporation, epidemiologists, surveillance officer and IT professional for Arogya setu-ITIHAS solution,” the order states.