---
id: "coronavirus-smarter-crowdsourcing:recommendations/enhance-data-collection"
type: "GovLab policy recommendation"
title: "Enhance Data Collection"
url: "https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/recommendations/enhance-data-collection"
summary: "Enhance data collection capabilities through innovations in technologies, crowdsourcing, symptom-trackers, and partnerships."
source: "The GovLab (coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org)"
licence: "Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)"
---

# Enhance Data Collection

Enhance data collection capabilities through innovations in technologies, crowdsourcing, symptom-trackers, and partnerships.

- Part of: [Smarter Crowdsourcing in the Age of Coronavirus](https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/), [all recommendations](https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/recommendations)

## Strategy 1

Collect epidemiological surveillance data with a symptom tracker or triage tool that leverages crowdsourcing and participatory surveillance.

- Timeframe: 1-3 Months (immediate)
- Audience: Civil Society
- Type: Data, Technology/Innovation, Communications
- Strategy page: https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/strategies/collect-epidemiological-surveillance-data-with-a-s

### Actions governments should take (strategy 1)

1. Review Covid-19 symptoms and guidance from verified public health authorities like the [PAHO](https://www.paho.org/en/technical-documents-coronavirus-disease-covid-19), [WHO](https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance) or national Centers for Disease Control.
2. Identify a technology platform for participatory surveillance. For example, adapting existing smartphone-based apps and SMS platforms may be the fastest and most affordable option.
3. Conduct a review of available technologies and platforms that may already be licenced to government agencies. Survey tools like [qualtrics](https://www.qualtrics.com/lp/qualtrics-demo/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=US-Brand-Qualtrics-Brand&utm_keyword=qualtrics&MatchType=e&adid=178143128566&utm_content=178143128566&adgroupid=41339289338&campaignid=755409789&AdGroup=%7BAdGroup%7D&BidMatchType=%7BBidMatchType%7D&Target=&targetid=kwd-8232955280&Device=c&devicemodel=&loc_phsyical_ms=9003967&Placement=&querystring=%7Bquerystring%7D&network=g&adposition=&GCLID=CjwKCAiAzNj9BRBDEiwAPsL0d-pnkdJzvF4z0eM1PzipWQmLI0VNl3yxv2pmFMSB_KANwgpwaSjTAhoCQBEQAvD_BwE&gclid=CjwKCAiAzNj9BRBDEiwAPsL0d-pnkdJzvF4z0eM1PzipWQmLI0VNl3yxv2pmFMSB_KANwgpwaSjTAhoCQBEQAvD_BwE), or [jotform](https://www.jotform.com/?utm_source=adwords&utm_campaign=122684001&utm_medium=cpc&adgroup=7242471681&matchtype=e&device=c&utm_term=jotform&utm_content=332697633772&extension_id=&gclid=CjwKCAiAzNj9BRBDEiwAPsL0d5c1DJmvo26VEAvnRYMRc42sr4UccvNTYMHgHCYIgUltCOge1GJXNhoC3JoQAvD_BwE), guarantee safety and security of the information and allow data to be exported and easily analyzed.
4. Develop a socialization plan that covers how the tool will be promoted and shared to encourage widespread and frequent use.
5. Consider ways to make the tool more accessible including by the graphic design, literacy level of the information, and languages that the tool is translated into.
6. Make sure that the tool offers an opt-in function to capture geographic location or approximation (e.g. zip code, census tract, etc.)
7. [Consider ways to host the tool across different platforms like a website, a smartphone app, SMS, telephone hotlines or smart paper forms.](https://shifo.org/en/solution/)
8. Consider ways to allow individuals to report symptoms at regular intervals (e.g. every day, week, etc.), by setting alerts or reminders.
9. Ensure that the tool offers concrete guidance, resources, and advice for what an individual should do given her/his personal results (e.g. if you are sick do “X”)
10. [Establish mechanisms to “push” or publicize the tool to increase use among specific and general populations. Tools like Twilio allow governments to mass message contact links via SMS.](https://www.twilio.com/sms)

### Examples from around the world (strategy 1)

1. Governments can create an online symptom tracker that allows individuals to check and see if they are developing or have symptoms that are consistent with a COVID-19 infection. These tools create value for the person taking the assessment but also for the government who collects the data because it allows them to monitor population-level trends of infection. In New Jersey, the state’s [symptom tracker](https://covid19.nj.gov/forms/self) predicted zip code level warnings based off of ~5 percent of the population’s responses. These trackers can be promoted through SMS, targeted advertising, or other types of promotion. Additionally, they are very inexpensive to develop and maintain. The New Jersey symptom tracker was based on a similar tool in [Alberta, Canada](https://myhealth.alberta.ca/journey/covid-19/Pages/COVID-Self-Assessment.aspx).

## Strategy 2

Invest in and promote the use of technological and digital innovations that can help collect accurate and timely data.

- Timeframe: 1+ years (structural change)
- Audience: Private Sector, Academia
- Type: Data, Technology/Innovation, Procurement/Logistics
- Strategy page: https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/strategies/invest-in-and-promote-the-use-of-technological-and

### Actions governments should take (strategy 2)

1. Promote the use of wearables (smart watches, bio stickers, etc.) and portable health technology (eg. smart thermometers) that allow individuals to report symptoms, health conditions, or comorbidities.
2. [Invest in and promote the use of technologies like smart paper, phone apps, SMS surveys, that can be used by minimally trained/skilled workers to collect data and report it into open source or centralized platforms.](https://shifo.org/en/solution/)
3. Develop a smartphone app that collects opt-in geo-spacial information that can be used for contact tracing.
4. [Pilot rapid paper-based tests when the technology is available.](https://knowablemagazine.org/article/health-disease/2020/race-develop-paper-based-tests-coronavirus)
5. Ensure technologies can integrate their data into national or centralized data systems, or open source platforms.
6. Review all tools and technologies to ensure the highest level of data security, privacy, and anonymity where relevant.

### Examples from around the world (strategy 2)

1. “Smart paper” forms are being used in East Africa to help digitize manually collected information. “Smart Paper” are printed paper that can be filled out by hand but scanned into a computer or phone, allowing them to be digitized quickly and with great accuracy. [SHIFO](https://shifo.org/en/solution/) - a Swedish company - has developed healthcare specific forms that are being used across East Africa ([Kenya](https://doc-08-b8-docs.googleusercontent.com/docs/securesc/bm4go9cere9ic389lqpd0klor6encu4u/dnigq1dv8pr524a1d99jco1o3gcqqf3b/1604956725000/05289062938595699748/04776368802958413349/19-aTH9Rke6FCjs9Qxt_4Pl2eZdoCAnG_?authuser=0&nonce=eg8e1eo6g0eq2&user=04776368802958413349&hash=p5a3do6hqkk7f88vgmhcp7o1nj27dch4), [Uganda](https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1937yCBMc9W956Nf3Ul-jDo8JB4TfI39J), [Tanzania](https://drive.google.com/uc?id=1_3cIaQL2abN_9Xj6ip11UWQbjuBvLVEs)). This technology allows for the collection of reliable data in hard to reach areas that may not have access to digital healthcare technologies. Importantly it is very low cost.

## Strategy 3

Partner with institutions with high levels of social engagement,trust,and access to populations to collect information and implement public health monitoring and surveillance systems.

- Timeframe: 1-3 Months (immediate)
- Audience: Private Sector, Academia, Civil Society, Healthcare Providers, Organized Civil Society, Nonprofits
- Type: Data, Technology/Innovation, Partnerships, Capacity Building
- Strategy page: https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/strategies/partner-with-institutions-with-high-levels-of-soci

### Actions governments should take (strategy 3)

1. Identify institutions with high levels of social engagement and/or community trust to potentially partner with on surveillance systems. These may include institutions like elementary or secondary schools, religious institutions, sports organizations, large employers like factories, and importantly primary care and public health facilities.
2. Build relationships with key individuals in these institutions who will be leading the work internally to that institution. Make sure that this point of contact is empowered to make decisions and provide internal leadership to the partnership.
3. Where possible, invest in capacity building and training for data collection amongst the staff persons in these institutions.
4. Conduct training of trainers (TOT).
5. Create an online course or asynchronous learning module that explains the fundamentals of the requested collaboration, including instructions on how to use the appropriate softwares, apps, or other data collection technologies.

### Examples from around the world (strategy 3)

1. [Public health officials should use social surveillance systems that capitalize on institutions that populations already trust (e.g. schools, churches/religious institutions, community centers, etc.). In Mexico, the Directorate of Economic and Social Benefits at the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) is using data from employers across the country that indicates when workers are out sick or absent. This data is used to forecast where outbreaks may occur.](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(20)30157-2/fulltext)