Where countries are putting together efforts to find a definitive solution to COVID-19, some have sought digital aide to mitigate the widespread of this pandemic. Students, Professionals, and researchers have developed mobile apps that can assist you to spot affected patients. How these apps are coming to effect, and what are their limitations, uses, and benefits?
Every Coronavirus Tracker App works on a similar method by which you can identify the contacts who may have been infected. These apps utilize the data collected based on the user’s geolocation, phone number, health status, etc.
Official App launched by the Chinese Government to monitor the population. According to Xinhua, a health transport authority, this app is jointly developed by the Government & Chinese Electronics Technology Group.
Even though this app is used in more than 200 Chinese cities at the moment, there are some privacy concerns including:
The TraceTogether App is released by the Singapore Government Agency to help track possible infected cases of COVID-19. This Coronavirus Tracking App is designed by SGUnited, GovTech, and the Ministry of Health of Singapore.
Tracetogether App simplifies the complex process of tracking your last activities in the past 14 days which is not possible if done manually.
The only apparent drawback of tracetogether app for Coronavirus tracking is that it uses your phone’s Bluetooth. Some devices may not be visible to other phones even if they are staying in the vicinity.
Inspired by Singapore, this Coronavirus app is developed as an open-source application by a Local IT Company in the Czech Republic to detect and prevent COVID-19 infections.
eFacemask is similar to that of Trace Together developed by Singapore.
COVID Symptom Tracker app UK is designed for Apple devices to slow the spread of COVID-19 by self-reporting your symptoms daily. Contributing to data gathering on Coronavirus, this app is capable to spot your symptoms even if you feel well despite being infected.
This app is the second most downloaded app in the UK while the government is all set to launch its official contact-tracing app (allying with Apple and Google) to track the spread.
Given the circumstances and little time to deal with the pandemic, every effort, and every breakthrough is a high priority. Many countries have hinted to collaborate with tech giants to prevent the further spread of coronavirus disease. Prevention is better than cure, and smartphones are what everyone has at their disposal to safeguard from infection easily.
A smartphone app can help you keep track of possible contacts you have made recently. You can also receive updates and statistics, besides, following the guidelines issued by the health department you can educate yourself about the basic dos and don'ts to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The most basic use of COVID-19 Apps is contact tracing and assisting users to contact the appropriate authority upon detection of the infection. Many Apps also provide a live status of the spread such as the number of cases so far, cured, and uncured patients.
The data that is presented through mobile apps, is linked to servers directly that ensures its accuracy and correctness. Governments have authorized control over these official apps to enable the public to stay alert and ring an alarm in case the infection spreads. Many mobile apps have established direct helpline links to assist users to communicate. with the respective authorities.
You can not always rely on technology all the time. Health Experts and technologists suggest that an app is not enough to solve the real-time problems faced in spotting patients and testing them.
