Effective May 11th, 2023, COVID-19 was no longer considered a Public Health Emergency in the U.S. As a result, the COVID-19 Exposure Notifications System (ENS) responsible for letting you know when you have most likely been in contact with someone who has tested positive, is being shut down in the majority of states.
Thanks to the utilization of the ENS, though, the expertise and know-how acquired will pave the way for a more efficient and effective public health system in the future. There is no longer a need to start from square one, since a solid foundation has already been established. To that, APHL Program Manager of National Server Operations, Emma Sudduth added:
The collaboration between private technology companies and public health in this endeavor made a far stronger solution. Learning from this experience and growing these established relationships will strengthen public health.
As we move forward and look to the future, it is important to remember the role that technology played in our every day lives during the pandemic. We often think of this being limited to video conferencing and how being connected through social media allowed us to stay active and productive. However, the use of technology for exposure alerts proves that when working together towards a common goal, incredible things can be created.
