Soon, anyone can contribute to tracking coronavirus circulation in France. The trusted Covidnet.fr platform, active during the first wave, relaunches to empower public participation in SARS-CoV-2 surveillance.
As reported by L'Express on September 11, 2020, a COVID-19 explosion like March's is unlikely, meaning no inevitable second wave. Yet the situation may linger for months or years. Relaunching September 14, Covidnet.fr pairs with Grippenet.fr for its tenth season of epidemiological surveillance, covering both COVID-19 and seasonal flu.
Participants complete a simple weekly questionnaire on health status—no doctor visit required. Report if you're feeling well or detail symptoms, plus barrier measures and recent contacts.
Led by Inserm and Santé Publique France, Covidnet.fr provides authorities with real-time insights into SARS-CoV-2 spread nationwide, alongside flu tracking. It fills gaps in traditional systems from hospitals and GPs by capturing data from those who don't seek care, minimizing blind spots.
Questionnaires are fully anonymous; registration emails aren't linked to responses, supporting pure research objectives.
Globally, COVID-19 has surpassed 28 million cases and more than 900,000 deaths, with the United States, India, and Brazil hardest hit.
Here's an explanatory video on the Covidnet.fr project:
