Amid growing Covid-19 cases in the US, Homeland Security has drafted a list of critical services, including blockchain, to combat the outbreak. Responding to guidelines issued by President Donald Trump, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) had added this technology to the list of critical infrastructure services needed to tackle the spread of this disease.

This indicates that blockchain managers may have to maintain their normal or ‘appropriately modified’ work schedule during this time. With this, they join others who work in critical infrastructure industries such as pharmaceuticals and food supply chain. 

“[This is to] ensure  continuity of functions critical to public health safety, as well as economic and national security,” CISA said in the statement.

However, it is important to note that this purely s advisory in nature, and should not be seen as a ‘federal directive”. Instead, it simply aims to help governments identify essential workforce in order to maintain services in the country. 

‘All decisions should appropriately balance public safety while ensuring the continued delivery of critical infrastructure services and functions,’ notes the official circular.

This comes at a time when top tech firms based out of the US, including Google, Amazon and Twitter, are strictly enforcing remote work for their employees.

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Blockchain As Critical Technology

Since Blockchain can accurately monitor and trace the movement of goods in a supply chain, it can essentially be leveraged to control the spread of Covid-19. 

Healthcare blockchains – as they exist today – are being developed to manage and verify patient data. This application in current circumstances can help onboard medical practitioners as they combat the spread of the virus.

Another use case is in pharmaceutical supply chains. These can leverage blockchain to ensure compliance with the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA).