Using Information and Communication Technology to Address Wisconsin’s COVID-19 Crisis
The Covid Connect App contains helpful, vetted information, and allows Wisconsinites to share insights and advice with others in their own communities. Importantly, it’s an evolving resource. The content provided in the app will be updated over time, as the impact of COVID evolves.
– Dr. Ryan Westergaard
At a Glance
Note: Funding for this grant has ended.
The Challenge
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a suite of challenges for individuals and communities. Development of a tailored, comprehensive online resource to help Wisconsin residents deal with the virus and its impact on the economy, social life, mental health and more is an excellent way to help our society stay informed and promote wellbeing as Wisconsin and the world cope with the virus and its impacts.
Project Goals
This project will develop and maintain a comprehensive mobile coronavirus system designed to help sustain coronavirus isolation and quarantines. The system will provide support, motivation and accurate, timely information to Wisconsin residents, communities and organizations. Specifically, the system (for both desktop and mobile) will include the following:
- Ways to support one another (moderated local and statewide discussion groups)
- Responses to frequently asked questions, along with tips and collaborative planning tools for social distancing, reducing anxiety and decreasing feelings of social isolation
- Updated lists of misinformation being spread (with correctives based on best practices and rapid-response research)
- Information and support webinars by Dr. Westergaard and others
- Data on how people are coping
- Links to high-quality information sources (including the State of Wisconsin’s website)
Results
The Center for Health Enhancement System Studies at UW–Madison developed the COVID-19 Wisconsin Connect app in partnership with government, academic, medical, business and community organizations statewide. The app was launched in early May, 2020. The desktop version is currently live, and the mobile version is under review by Apple and Google Play and is expected to be live soon.
Looking to the Future
The app will continue to be updated and will serve as a resource for Wisconsin throughout the duration of the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. In order to maximize the reach of the app, social marketing, paid print and broadcast media placements will create awareness, both among end users and influencers. Monitors will track discourse, information and misinformation about the virus over time, alerting the marketing and operation teams about the best ways to craft messages, both for recruiting those who would benefit and alerting those using the system about dangerous misinformation. A production and operations team will allow UW faculty and staff to provide continued strategic and tactical direction.
Lasting Impact
The app continues to be disseminated and will continue to have an impact throughout the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. The team will monitor the reach and impact of the app to gauge the effect it is having over time, allowing for changes that could improve the strategic delivery of content. This could include monitoring social media to determine whether messages are resonant, modifying messages as needed and reporting to the Wisconsin state epidemiologist and other key influencers.