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. 2020 Jun 15:1:187-189.
doi: 10.1109/OJEMB.2020.3002447. eCollection 2020.

Detecting Regions At Risk for Spreading COVID-19 Using Existing Cellular Wireless Network Functionalities

Alaa A R Alsaeedy  1 , Edwin K P Chong  1
Affiliations

Detecting Regions At Risk for Spreading COVID-19 Using Existing Cellular Wireless Network Functionalities

Alaa A R Alsaeedy et al. IEEE Open J Eng Med Biol. .

Abstract

Goal: The purpose of this article is to introduce a new strategy to identify areas with high human density and mobility, which are at risk for spreading COVID-19. Crowded regions with actively moving people (called at-risk regions) are susceptible to spreading the disease, especially if they contain asymptomatic infected people together with healthy people. Methods: Our scheme identifies at-risk regions using existing cellular network functionalities-handover and cell (re)selection-used to maintain seamless coverage for mobile end-user equipment (UE). The frequency of handover and cell (re)selection events is highly reflective of the density of mobile people in the area because virtually everyone carries UEs. Results: These measurements, which are accumulated over very many UEs, allow us to identify the at-risk regions without compromising the privacy and anonymity of individuals. Conclusions: The inferred at-risk regions can then be subjected to further monitoring and risk mitigation.

Keywords: COVID-19; infectious diseases; tracking.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Illustration of HetNet deployment in areas with healthy and infected people.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Illustration of HO/CS rates in regions with varying density and mobility.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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