A Framework/ for Digital Contact Tracing/ for COVID-19/ Pandemic based on /the Kingdom of Bahrain/ Model (Preprint)

BACKGROUND The Kingdom of Bahrain is one of the pioneering countries to utilize a digital contact tracing (DCT) app to manage and combat COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing quarantine, contact tracing, and vaccination are some of the commonly effective measures to combat COVID-19 pandemic. Classical manual approaches, however, are unscalable, tedious, and labor intensive. As of March 2020, Bahrain deployed a smartphone app, namely: BeAware, that provided digital services such as: contact tracing, quarantine management, awareness information amongst many services to identify individual at risk and enforce social distancing and quarantine. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this paper is to present a framework for contact tracing apps derived from the BeAware app. BeAware app is a smartphone contact trancing app deployed in Bahrain during COVID-19 pandemic to provide contact tracing, quarantine, vaccination information and booking, amongst many other services essential to combat and manage COVID-19 pandemic. The framework is envisaged to guide decision makers, developers, designers alongside the public to the features and services the comprises digital contact tracing apps to effectively and efficiently deploy contact tracing apps and manage COVID-19 outbreaks. METHODS This paper documents the services provided by BeAware app deployed in Bahrain to combat COVID-19, and present them as a framework that can be followed when designing and implementing similar apps. The framework compares and contrasts between other technologies and features that are either used in BeAware app or available in other similar app implementations. RESULTS Bahrain has successfully managed COVID-19 pandemic without the need to implement full-lockdown measures. One of the elements contributing to this success is the early deployment of the BeAware app which provided a suite of necessary services and information for both government, citizens, and visitors alike. In addition to arranging for testing and vaccination, the authorities in Bahrain were able to ensure that individuals are adhering to social distancing and quarantine measures. The provided framework is essential when designing and developing contact tracing apps. The proposed framework provides a summary of technologies, services, features that can be used to build custom contact tracing apps. CONCLUSIONS Bahrain is considered one of the world’s pioneering countries with regard to e-services. The prompt deployment of BeAware app assisted the country to quickly respond to COVID-19 pandemic, and effectively implement social distancing, testing, contact tracing, quarantine, wearing masks, and other changes COVID-19 affected out work and lifestyle. BeAware app can be considered as a model the can be used to design and develop apps to combat and manage COVID-19 and other similar diseases. CLINICALTRIAL not applicable