BeAware app ‘will track cases’

A MOBILE app to track and monitor the status of coronavirus (Covid-19) cases in Bahrain has been launched.

The smartphone application BeAware Bahrain is mainly aimed at monitoring people who have been recommended home quarantine as part of national efforts to combat the spread of Covid-19.

It will alert individuals who have been in the same place as, or in close proximity to, a newly confirmed case during the past 14 days of confirming that case.

Using location data provided by the users, the national platform will also track the movement of quarantine cases for 14 days to ensure that they abide by the regulations.

The app, developed by the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA), will provide users with Covid-19 updates in Bahrain, spread awareness of the location of active cases and maintain accurate figures from contact tracing data provided by the Health Ministry.

The app can be downloaded on iOS and Android devices through the e-government app store apps.bahrain.bh.

After downloading the app, the users will have to register by providing their CPR and mobile numbers.

The user will then receive a text message via a one-time password following which the user will be notified of his/her current “suspicion status”.

“The launch of the app reflects the government’s keenness to adapt all means and the optimal use of modern technology and smart devices in the national efforts to combat the spread of the virus,” said iGA chief executive Mohammed Al Qaed.

“We designed and created an official Bahraini application of this kind after studying best international experiences in the field.

“We ensured the success of these experiments and its impact in limiting the spread of the virus, especially in countries such as Singapore, China and Hong Kong, before integrating it nationally.

“This is a national platform that provides more than one feature at the same time, combining preventive instructions and updated national official statistics on Covid-19.

“It is considered a comprehensive national platform to spread the latest developments of the virus in Bahrain in an official and timely manner.”

The government had earlier assured that the information provided by the application will be confidential and protected to ensure the user’s privacy. The free application was already provided to volunteers and quarantined cases to test its efficiency.

“The application was launched after ensuring its effectiveness and its mechanisms, through a pilot version, circulated to hundreds of volunteers and a number of people in quarantine,” said Mr Al Qaed.

“From among the existing cases, the application records the movements of citizens and residents for a period of two weeks, so that the competent authorities, upon discovering any confirmed infections, can inform all contacts of the case as soon as possible and contain the spread of the virus.”

It will also feature the latest local and global updates and preventive tips, in addition to alerts.

Source: http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/788411/BeAware-app-%E2%80%98will-track-cases%E2%80%99