Fighting Pandemics Using Non-Pharmaceutical Technologies and IoT Solutions: A Systematic Literature Review

BACKGROUND: Covid-19, ever since it culminated into a full on global pandemic, has been the focus of much human endeavour. These have mainly come in one of two forms: as pharmaceutical interventions like vaccines, or non-pharmaceutical interventions like social distancing, and contact tracing. While both were partially successful, the overall image of the Covid-19 pandemic has been one of failure, with an inability to fully stop the virus. Moreover, many problems were had even dealing with its consequences, as health systems got overwhelmed, and governments generally could not respond appropriately, or in time. Vaccines were not made available in due time in many places. In most developing countries vaccination rates are still low, showcasing the inequity that was brought by this pandemic, and the problems with administrating vaccines at a global level, across many cultures. Perhaps even worse, we know that there is an appreciable chance that the SARS-CoV-2 virus will not be the last, with new viruses as possible threats for humanity, and new variants evolving, constantly eluding the scope of otherwise static vaccines. Therefore, in this systematic literature review, non-pharmaceutical technological interventions (NPIs) and IoT technologies are explored as perhaps the most viable solutions for curbing current and subsequent pandemics, trying to overcome inequity of resources, and transitioning into a society that is pandemic resistant, rather than prone. METHODS: Papers were chosen from three databases (Scopus, IEEE, ACM) after various inquiries. These databases were chosen specifically for the control they give in search function, their size, and relevance, especially concerning IEEE and ACM. Inclusion criteria were that the NPI, technology or solution in general had to have been successfully tested, or utilized in real world cases, or studies. Technologies that were pharmaceutical in nature were excluded. RESULTS: A wide selection of technologies were observed to be not only available, but partly, or completely, in successful use. The main challenges moving further were identified as 1) the need for further, and more technologically varied adoption, and 2) better coordination between various pre-existing solutions via software and IoT technologies, culminating in smarter cities. DISCUSSION: One of the limitations to this study is that while there were a lot of solutions found aimed at bettering many NPIs, with such a large set of selections, that comparisons of effectiveness between these methods were limited. Most times the main comparative piece was the current state of the industry solution, or none at all as the proposal was new technology. Another was the near impossibility of bringing together all technologies, as a consensus is far from being reached, and new solutions are proposed monthly. OTHER: No funding was received.