As China heads back to work, millions of people are passing by each other again on trains, highways and other means of transportation. It means virus can be easily spread. But Shanghai authorities are using a big data platform to minimize further risk of the coronavirus spreading.

Shanghai workers report their temperature, travel history, and other information, which then gets sent to a big data platform that authorities use to manage epidemic prevention.

"We can see the personnel inflow and movement clearly and know where they stay in the city, especially those who come from the epicenters. So, we can take measures in some targeted districts and communities to prevent the virus from spreading," Shen Yuxin, director of Data Department of Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau, said.

The cross-department data platform combines information collected from police, health authorities and other government departments, and will alert local community workers to take action if anything warrants it. A neighborhood in Jiangsu Road District was highlighted in the system, and additional help was deployed to local disinfection stations immediately.

"We were informed that there are many people returning to Shanghai in this community, so we come within a few minutes to disinfect more frequently," Gu Yingjun, local community health worker, said.

Companies need to get approval before staff is allowed to come to work, and local authorities will decide whether the employee can go to the office or should quarantine for a while based on information from the data platform.

"L'Oreal applied for about 1,700 employees to return to work, but only about 300 of them were eligible to go back to the office after we checked their information. We told the company to arrange their business based on this situation," Zhang Yanfen, director of Urban Operation Managing Center of Jing'an Temple District, said.

Fabrice Megarbane, president and CEO of L'Oreal China, said such measures enabled them to assess the situation of each employee effectively.

"Because each situation of each employee is different, and we have to find a way that we are communicating with them, that we allow them to respect the safety rules, and for them to also be able to know when they can come back and when they can work," he said.

Authorities say ensuring the health and safety of people is still priority number one, while the city works hard to get businesses and lives back on track.

On the other hand, the collection of personal information in response to the outbreak of COVID-19 has also fueled debate about data breaches and further unauthorized use of personal information. Authorities have acknowledged these concerns and offered reassurances.

On February 9, the Cyberspace Administration of China released a notice on the protection of personal information when using big data during this special period. It has set a few guidelines on the collection, use and disclosure of personal information for purposes of containing COVID-19.

"Personal information collected for the purpose of containing COVID-19 should not be used for any other purpose. Unless sensitive personal information has been masked and with the exception of COVID-19 containment purposes, personal information, such as name, age, home address, etc., shall not be disclosed without the consent of the data subjects," it said.

The Cyberspace Administration of China also required entities collecting or possessing personal information to implement organizational and technical measures to prevent theft or leakage of such information.