News Room

This August, school will begin for millions of students across the U.S. — on Aug.10 in Atlanta, Aug.16 in Los Angeles and Aug. 23 in Raleigh and Houston. The rise we have seen in cases of COVID-19 from the Delta variant is scary, resulting in hospitals that are overfull in Missouri, Arkansas and many small towns around the country. Unfortunately, it will get worse if school boards and health departments do not take actions now to protect their communities. New research from me and my students at North Carolina State University reflect this.

The delta variant of COVID-19 is spreading at an extremely rapid rate. It is now the dominant strain in the United States – and the world – and the number of infections, hospitalizations and deaths continue to rise. Outbreaks are among the highest in places with low vaccination rates.

New evidence about the Delta variant’s ability to infect and spread even among those who are fully vaccinated has been particularly alarming for parents of young children who are still not eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) disseminates reams of data on COVID-19, including the number of confirmed infections, the number of deaths, the number of people vaccinated, breakthrough infections, and much more. As the delta variant spreads, solidifying its hold as the dominant variant in circulation, government and health officials’ pleas for people to be vaccinated ring louder with each passing day. 

Scientists looking for innovative ways to deliver healthcare have long searched for mechanisms that can enable the right intervention to be delivered at the right time. Traditional delivery mechanisms have been limited both to the availability of a provider (e.g., a physician) and the location of care (e.g., a hospital or outpatient clinic). In recent years, however, numerous technological advancements—including wearable devices, mobile technologies, and the widespread development and use of user-friendly smartphone applications—have resulted in significant changes in how care is delivered. For example, mobile Health (mHealth) technologies are now commonly used to deliver interventions in a self-service and personalized manner, reducing the demands on providers and lifting limitations on the locations in which care can be delivered. Successful examples of mHealth interventions include programs to: