Mobile Apps And AI, Latest Tools To Fight Coronavirus

As the coronavirus pandemic takes a toll globally, it seems technology such as mobile apps and AI may be the answer for speeding up diagnosis and tracking the course of the infection.

Representational image (Getty Images)

As the coronavirus pandemic takes a toll globally, it seems technology such as mobile apps and AI may be the answer for speeding up diagnosis and tracking the course of the infection. Singapore is at the forefront by developing a mobile app TraceTogether to help track those with Covid-19. Using the app an infected individual can record the areas they have been moving around in and the approximate number of people they may have encountered. Through Bluetooth, the user can also connect and get information from other app users who are nearby. If they were close to someone with the infection or are infected themselves the app alerts them and prompts them to send their data to government officials who will then arrange a test. Singapore which has been successful in reducing the number of cases and it seems that other countries may start using the technology. Ireland plans to roll out a similar app that can help in tracking victims quickly. While the number of coronavirus cases is still low in Ireland, it is steadily increasing. The government plans to roll out the app within the next 10 days. Germany is also mulling using mobile apps to keep a track of Covid-19 cases but only after carefully addressing privacy concerns. Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs are also being developed to help in the diagnosis. A team of American and Chinese researchers is testing a new program that can help doctors early detection of which coronavirus cases are going to get worse and which patients can be sent home for self-isolation. According to researchers, most patients infected with viruses experience only mild symptoms similar to the common cold but if the virus infects the lungs it can lead to  Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), a potentially fatal condition in which the lungs get filled with fluid. The difficulty is to determine which patients may contract these severe conditions as in many cases they start with only mild symptoms. Researchers feel that the AI which is still under development can use machine learning algorithms to assess the risk for the patients and predict if they will develop ARDS. According to reports Israel’s defense ministry also plans to use software to track carriers of the virus in collaboration with spyware firm NSO. The country has reported over 500 cases of coronavirus infection with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu self-isolating after a parliamentarian tested positive. Despite the obvious advantages of using such apps and software, there is also a fear of digital surveillance as the tracker apps use a person’s location and some personal details. Users are apprehensive that the data can also be used for more than just detection of infection. For example, the app used in Singapore violates several privacy norms followed in countries such as the United States. Nevertheless, with the daily increase in the number of cases, such technology can prove to be very helpful. In Singapore, most users were favorable towards the app and almost 5,00,000 people are using it. The government also assured that data is only saved on the phone and used only if users allow access. In India with almost a daily increase in the number of cases, using technology can be beneficial for faster tracking of infection. Since the coronavirus is highly contagious and spreads through contact with infected persons or surfaces that may harbor the virus, to curtail the advancement of the infection it is necessary to track every individual that the infected person may have met. This becomes a challenge as people may not voluntarily disclose travel history, take the test and in some cases avoid quarantine by running away from hospitals. Such apps can give users an easier way to keep track of their activities and help officials to speed up the process of testing.