According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the current global pandemic is the first known to emerge as the result of a novel coronavirus, identified as SARS-CoV-2, which causes the disease COVID-19. This respiratory disease is easily transmissible mainly from person to person, in droplet form, when an infected individual coughs or sneezes. It can also spread through contact with contaminated objects or surfaces. The symptoms associated with COVID-19 have ranged from very mild (including some cases with no reported symptoms) to severe or fatal. The fatality rate is still unclear as the pandemic unfolds, and there exist some variations across geographic regions and age groups.
Pandemics begin with an investigation phase, followed by recognition, initiation, and acceleration phases. Different countries can be in different phases of a pandemic at any point in time, and different parts of the same country can also be in different phases of a pandemic. Currently, several countries are experiencing what is known as community spread; this is considered part of the acceleration phase. Therefore, one of the most important tools public health officials need is a reliable system that can quickly report accurate data about the outbreak. This way, officials can rapidly identify and implement the most effective interventions.