METHOD FOR ISSUING A VERIFIED HEALTH PASS, USE THEREOF FOR ENTERING A VENUE AND CONTACT TRACING METHOD

Abstract

The provision of a pass that may be used in the field of infectious disease prevention and control and, more specifically, a method for the provision of a verified health pass that is indicative for at least one health status of an individual and can be used for allowing entry to a venue depending on said specific health status. The verified health pass may further be used for linking an individual's identity to an associated proximity detection device to allow contact tracing of individuals inside a venue while minimizing transfer of personal data.

Claims

1. A method of issuing a verified health pass to be stored on an individual's mobile device, the method comprising the steps of: verifying an individual's identity; receiving at least one verified health status of the individual, said verified health status being indicative of at least one health parameter and being determined by a health care authority; transmitting the verified health status and verified identity to a remote server to create a verified health pass, said verified health pass including an optical or digital code containing encrypted information on the identity and the at least one health status of the individual; and transmitting the verified health pass to a mobile device or wearable of the individual.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identity verification is performed by a remote ID verification service and preferably involves video identification or involves uploading of a photo identity of a passport or ID card and a facial photo to the ID verification service.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the verified health status includes information of at least one of i) immunity status, ii) infection status, iii) inflammation status and iv) vaccination history.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the infection status and/or immunity status is determined based on the presence or absence of antibodies for a specific disease.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the verified health status expires after a predefined time limit.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical code is a QR code or a barcode and preferably only contains encrypted information on the verified health status and identity of the individual.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein determination of a specific health status includes risk stratification based on predictive analytics.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the verified health pass allows entry of the individual to a venue, if a specific verified health status meets at least one predefined criterion, said predefined criterion preferably including at least one of i) absence of infection, ii) presence of immunity to a specific disease, iii) absence of recent intercontinental travel history, iv) absence of recent travel history into countries presenting a health risk, v) lasting vaccination for a specific disease, and vi) absence of a specific health issue.

9. A method for contact tracing in a venue, the method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of proximity detection devices each of which including a proximity sensor, a memory, and a battery, and being configured to enable reception, storage and transmission or read-out of data, for each individual entering a venue, scanning or receiving a code, verifying the individual's identity and generating a unique identification code linked to the individual's identity; associating one of the proximity-detection devices to each individual and via transmission of the individual's unique identification code to the associated proximity-detection device; with the aid of the proximity sensor detecting and recording interactions between two or more individuals if an interaction is within the criterion thresholds of least one predefined criterion selected from the group of duration, proximity, and frequency of the interaction; and transmitting the information on recorded interactions to a secure server database.

10. A method for contact tracing in a venue, the method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of proximity detection devices each of which including a proximity sensor, a memory, and a battery, and being configured to enable reception, storage and transmission or read-out of data, for each individual entering a venue, scanning or receiving an optical or digital code on a verified health pass, the verified health pass being stored on a mobile device and the optical or digital code containing encrypted information on the identity and at least one health status of the individual; said at least one health status being indicative of at least one health parameter and determined by a health care authority; checking if the at least one health status meets predefined criteria for allowing entry to the venue; verifying the individual's identity and generating a unique identification code linked to the individual's identity; associating one of the proximity-detection devices to each individual and via transmission of the individual's unique identification code to the associated proximity-detection device; with the aid of the proximity sensor detecting and recording interactions between two or more individuals if an interaction is within the criterion thresholds of least one predefined criterion selected from the group of duration, proximity, and frequency of the interaction; and transmitting the information on recorded interactions to a secure server database.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the tracking occurs in a venue equipped with Real Time Locating System (RTLS).

12. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the predefined criterion and/or the criterion threshold is adjustable by a program stored in the proximity detection device.

13. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein an interaction is recorded if two proximity detection devices come into contact at a distance of less than 1.5 m, preferably less than 2 m.

14. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the proximity detection device is sized and configured to be worn around a body part of the individual.

15. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the proximity detection device is securely attached to the associated individual upon entering a venue and detachment of the device preferably requires the aid of an authorized individual.

16. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein scanning of the optical code triggers transmission of time, date and location data to the secure server database.

17. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein, in case of an individual being diagnosed with an infectious disease, the method further includes the steps of: accessing the database and based on the recorded interactions by the proximity detection device associated to the individual carrying the disease, and determining potentially infected individuals.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the potentially infected individuals are informed, preferably by sending a notification to their mobile devices.

19. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the verified health status on the mobile device of potentially infected individuals is changed.

Description

[0096] The present invention will be further described in detail in connection with the attached figures, which show an exemplary process of a verified health pass being issued and being indicative of an infection status with COVID-19.

[0097] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a testing step (Step A) in which an individual is tested for infection with a certain disease.

[0098] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of an identification step (Step B) in which the identification of an individual is verified and the verified identity of said individual is linked to a verified health status indicative of the results from testing step (Step A). Both information on the verified identity and the verified health status of the individual is stored as encrypted data in a verified health pass (Step C).

[0099] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of how the verified health pass can be used to allow entry of the individual to a venue (Step D) and linked to a proximity detection device (Step E) to allow collecting contact tracing data without the use of a mobile phone inside the venue (Step F).

[0100] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of how the contact tracing data can be used to identify individuals that have come into contact with an individual being infected with a contagious disease (Step G) and how these potentially infected individuals can be notified and prompted to take the necessary measures to prevent spreading of the disease (Step H).

Process for COVID-19 Testing (Step A)

[0101] As represented in FIG. 1, issuance of a verified health pass may involve obtaining a verified health status that is indicative for the presence or absence of an infection with a disease. COVID-19 (abbreviated as “COVID”) will be used as an exemplary disease in the following, yet it is readily understood that any other disease may be chosen instead. To this end, the individual may book a face to face consultation 10 or online consultation 12, e.g. using a medical booking service.

[0102] An online consultation 12 may be conducted with an approved online COVID testing telemedical service 14 that delivers and collects a COVID specific test and is also responsible for safe disposal thereof. The testing shall comply with local health authority regulations using approved POC (point of care) or lab-based tests. For determining a COVID infection status, a combination of antibody IgG/IgM and antigen testing may be used.

[0103] The test results 16 are analyzed and the infection status determined by a health care professional 14..fwdarw.Step A

[0104] The infection status is communicated to the tested individual preferably in form of a scannable code via an application software, whereby no detailed medical is information transmitted. The infection status may also be uploaded to a secure server. One example of a server provider is BayWa IT GmbH, Munich, Germany.

[0105] The infection status may be issued in form of a green or red status: A green status is issued if no evidence of current infection (through an antigen test) or past infection is found. A green status is also issued if evidence of past infection (e.g. only IgG antibodies), but no evidence of current infection is found (assumed immunity). On the other hand, if evidence of ongoing infection is found, e.g. if IgG and IgM antibodies or antigens for COVID are found, a red infection status is issued.

Process for ID Verification and VIP Issue (Steps B and C)

[0106] Verification of an individual's identity may be done online by comparing a picture or video of the individual's face against a picture of his/her identity card..fwdarw.Step B

[0107] In one embodiment, the verifying of an individual's identity is done with the aid of a video identification service called “WebID” from WEBID SOLUTIONS GMBH. One example of video identification is described e.g. in U.S. Pat. No. 9,911,035. To this end, the individual starts video identification using the services from WebID. A member of the WebID team then guides the individual through the legitimation process, checking the individual's data and ID document. At the end, the individual will be asked to enter a TAN number online. The TAN is sent to the individual via SMS once the identity details have been confirmed.

[0108] The individual obtains a verified infection status and provides said infection status to an ID verification service.

[0109] The ID service transmits the verified ID and infections status to a secure server 18, preferably from a service provider specialized in secure data transmission and storage. The secure server issues a verified health pass 20 with a QR code 22 encoding for a positive infection status (e.g. indicated in red colour) or negative infective status (e.g. indicated in green colour)..fwdarw.Step C. A negative infection status may be required for gaining entry to a venue.

[0110] The verified health pass may also be required to complete a booking e.g. for an event or flight. During the booking process an individual may be asked to scan the code on the individual's verified health pass and the booking can only be completed if e.g. the health status meets certain criteria, such as absence of an infection.

[0111] A key aspect of the inventive method is that a verified identity of an individual can be linked to a verified health status of this individual.

[0112] Instead of providing information on an individual's identity and/or a verified health status to a remote server of a service provider, said service provider may also provide an ID verification system that uses video streaming technology for both the ID verification and verification of a health status in an online medical consultation. In one embodiment the identity verification process and a medical consultation for obtaining a verified health status (e.g. including entry of medical data, tests completion and entry of results) is done within the same video stream, in which the individual to be tested is identified and is constantly observed or captured on the video stream during the medical consultation. Uninterrupted video streaming ensures that the identified individual cannot be exchanged for the medical consultation.

[0113] In another example, an uploading of verified test results and verification of an individual's identity can be done in the presence of a health care professional during a face to face consultation. For instance, an individual may have a real consultation with a health care professional to have a virus test, e.g. an antigen gest and/or an antibody test, conducted for a specific disease. While waiting for the tests results, an online identification of the individual can be conducted in the presence of the health care professional before the latter can upload and verify the test results to the server of the service provider for issuing the verified health pass. Thereby, the identity of the individual linked to specific health data and/or test results is guaranteed.

Venue Entry and Contact Tracing (Steps D and F)

[0114] To allow contact tracing inside a venue 30, the venue is equipped with (GPS independent) high resolution Real Time Locating System (RTLS). For entry, an individual presents the QR code 22 of the individual's verified health pass at venue entry, together with some identification 24, e.g. ID card, driver license or passport. Such an identification document may also be contained in the verified health pass, e.g. included in a specific app running on the individual's mobile phone. A staff member scans the QR code 22 at the entry and confirms photo identity 24 of the individual. Scanning of the QR code triggers generation of a unique identification code and further triggers transmission of time, date and location of the QR scan to a secure server 26.fwdarw.Step D. This data is encrypted before transmission.

[0115] The venue issues proximity detection devices 40 in form of tracking bracelets. At the entry, the code on an individual's verified health pass is scanned to generate the mentioned unique identification code and each individual is provided with a proximity tracking bracelet. Through transmission of the unique identification code, the associated tracking bracelet is linked to the verified health pass on the mobile phone or other communication device of the respective individual.fwdarw.Step E. This way, each bracelet is linked to the respective individual, but apart from the unique identification code no other data is exchanged between the tracking bracelet and the smartphone or other personal device on which the verified health pass is stored. Also, the tracing is independent on the use of an individual's mobile phone inside the venue and can therefore also be applied in venues in which mobile phones must be switched off or are not allowed at all. Nonetheless, if desired, tracking data obtained from separate mobile phone based tracking apps may be combined with the data obtained from the tracking bracelet.

[0116] All individuals being admitted to the venue may move freely throughout the venue. Using RTLS, the tracking bracelets record interactions between two individuals if an interaction is e.g. within contact distance of less than 2 m and for e.g. at least 5 seconds.fwdarw.Step F. These parameters can be adjusted, depending on the nature of the spreading mechanisms of a specific disease or common diseases. The data on recorded interactions may be stored in the memory of the bracelet and transmitted after the return of the bracelet, or the data may also be transmitted continuously to a secured cloud server in real time.

[0117] The recorded data on interactions is only accessed in the event of an individual being later diagnosed with an infectious disease in order to determine all individuals that have come into close proximity of the infected individual.

[0118] By making sure that only individuals whose verified health status meets certain criteria, e.g. with respect to an infection or immunity status, the method of the present invention allows for large numbers of individuals coming together in a venue even in case of a pandemic crisis.

[0119] The contact tracing preferably occurs using RTLS technology and thus independent of GPS. RTLS allows for highly accurate tracking of the location of a tracking device also inside of a building. Instead of tracking bracelets, any other device that can be attached to an individual—or even implanted—may be used. For the contact tracing itself, no transfer of personal or medical information is required. The only link between the identity of an individual and the contact tracing device is the unique code of the associated contact tracing device that is linked to the mobile phone or other smart device of the respective individual.

Retesting and Tracing (Steps G and H)

[0120] In particular in times of a pandemic crisis due to an outbreak of an infective disease, scheduled retesting is preferably conducted in accordance with local health authority recommendations. For instance, each individual that is not quarantined should be tested in weekly intervals or any time that an individual shows symptoms of an infection. Depending on the outcome of the test, the pertaining health status in the verified health pass is revalidated as “safe” (green pass 46) or changed to “infected” (red pass 48). People identified as infected may further receive recommendations to remain quarantined until their health status is determined as safe.

[0121] Apart from green and red, the verified health pass may also have a yellow status indicating that re-validation of a specific health status is required. For instance, if an individual 42 having entered a venue recently is diagnosed with an infectious disease X, every individual that has come into close contact with the infected individual can be identified (.fwdarw.Step G) and their verified health pass of could be changed from green to yellow 47 and prompted to get tested for the infectious disease X.fwdarw.Step H.

[0122] The potentially infected individuals 44 may be informed of the change of status of their verified health pass, e.g. by push-notification.