RIVM is working on a new version of Infection Radar and is starting research

The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment is working on a new version of Infection Radar. For the time being, the website will remain offline, but RIVM will start research with participants who have registered so far.

The institute writes this in an update on its website. The website infectionradar.nl was launched last week. Citizens could report on the site whether they had symptoms of the corona virus. In this way, the scientists of the RIVM could follow how the virus spread through the country. However, the site was soon taken offline when the software was found to be outdated and insecure. RIVM explains that because of the speed of the corona spread, it was important to go online quickly. That is why a system of Influenzanet was chosen, a partnership of European governments and universities. The system was previously used to monitor the swine flu.

RIVM says that it has received help from citizens and companies in recent weeks to get the site back on the air. “We are busy making an inventory of all the offers and seeing which solution fits best,” the institute writes. The website will remain offline during that time. According to the RIVM, no data from participants was stolen while the site was still working. The institute says it can already start with the research for which Infection Radar was intended. More than 30,000 participants have registered. “As a result, Infection Radar can still start. We use other software for this, with which important data collection can still start.” Participants will receive information about the further course of the study by e-mail.