---
id: "coronavirus-smarter-crowdsourcing:strategies/Collect-epidemiological-surveillance-data-with-a-s"
type: "GovLab policy strategy"
title: "Collect epidemiological surveillance data with a symptom tracker or triage tool that leverages crowdsourcing…"
url: "https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/strategies/collect-epidemiological-surveillance-data-with-a-s"
summary: "Collect epidemiological surveillance data with a symptom tracker or triage tool that leverages crowdsourcing and participatory surveillance."
source: "The GovLab (coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org)"
licence: "Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)"
---

# Collect epidemiological surveillance data with a symptom tracker or triage tool that leverages crowdsourcing…

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
- Recommendation: [Enhance Data Collection](https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/recommendations/enhance-data-collection)
- Part of: [Smarter Crowdsourcing in the Age of Coronavirus](https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/)

## Actions governments should take

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

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).