COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented devastation worldwide. However, technological advancements are being availed readily to win over the crisis. Give an account of how technology was sought to aid management of the pandemic. (Answer in 250 words)

Technology supported pandemic management by enabling rapid detection, remote service delivery, data-driven decision-making, medical innovation and continuity of essential economic and public services.

• Digital dashboards, laboratory information systems, GIS mapping and contact-tracing applications supported surveillance and hotspot identification.
• Telemedicine, e-prescriptions and remote monitoring reduced unnecessary hospital visits and improved continuity of care.
• Artificial intelligence and data analytics assisted forecasting, resource allocation and interpretation of medical images, though they required validation.

• RT-PCR and rapid antigen testing expanded detection capacity, while genome sequencing monitored variants.
• Oxygen-monitoring devices, ventilators, pulse oximeters and digital hospital-management systems supported clinical care.
• Biotechnology accelerated vaccine research, clinical trials, manufacturing, cold-chain monitoring and digital certification.

• Online education, remote work, digital payments, e-commerce and cloud platforms maintained social and economic activity.
• Direct-benefit transfers and digital identification helped deliver assistance, while drones and robots supported selected logistics and disinfection tasks.

Digital exclusion, privacy risks, misinformation, algorithmic bias, data fragmentation and unequal device access limited benefits. Technologies must therefore follow consent, data minimisation, interoperability, accessibility and public-health ethics.

Keywords: telemedicine, contact tracing, genomic surveillance, digital divide, data privacy, vaccine technology, e-governance.