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Title: COVID-19 digital proximity-tracing applications: uptake, performance, and public health management implications

Authors: Izabella V. Lokshina¹, Cees J.M. Lanting²

Addresses: ¹Department of Business, SUNY Oneonta, Oneonta, NY, 13820, USA,
²DATSA Belgium, Leuven, VBR 3010, Belgium

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly disrupted public health systems worldwide, underscoring the need for tools to manage infectious disease transmission. Contact tracing has long been a core strategy in epidemic response, and the widespread availability of smartphones has enabled its evolution into digital proximity tracing via mobile applications. During the pandemic, numerous countries and regions implemented such apps based on location data and short-range communication technologies. This study examines the adoption, operational integration, and real-world effectiveness of digital proximity-tracing apps across multiple national contexts. Evidence suggests that these applications had a limited impact on reducing COVID-19 transmission due to low adoption rates and uneven integration into public health service operations. Furthermore, concerns about privacy, data security, and trust significantly influenced their adoption and performance. The findings emphasise that successful digital health interventions depend not only on technology but also on governance frameworks, communication strategies, and service design during public health emergencies.

Keywords: COVID-19; disease transmission; digital health interventions; contact tracing; digital proximity tracing; mobile applications; adoption; performance; concerns; privacy; data security; trust; public health management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSEM.2026.10078749

Received: 19 Jan 2026
Accepted: 18 Apr 2026
Published online: 09 Oct 2026 *