Technology in the fight to prevent the spread of COVID-19

Through telemedicine, artificial intelligence, or mobile applications, technology is helping to control and combat the expansion of COVID-19

Currently, our healthcare personnel and technology are key to ending the pandemic more quickly and efficiently.

Thanks to our health professionals and professionals who work tirelessly to combat COVID-19, despite the conditions in which they have been forced to work, the endless hours, and the risks to which they are exposed daily, continue by our side, taking care of ourselves and always giving their best to protect us, without them this fight would be lost.

Technological development joins forces against the coronavirus.

The rapid expansion of COVID-19 has led us to take sanitary measures worldwide, not because of its case fatality rates, but because of the overwhelming transmission and contagion capacity. To this last fact, a question is added that puts the medical community in check, and that is that this virus can be present in totally asymptomatic people, who are carriers of it and can transmit it to the rest of the population.

Given this scenario, it was to be expected that the main leading countries in technological development would use the multiple uses and applications that can be extracted from new technologies to try to stop the rapid expansion of the new coronavirus COVID-19. Although it is true that China and South Korea have been the main promoters of these ideas, their innovations can be beneficial for the world population as a whole.

Mobile applications and Chatbots

Without a doubt, mobile applications, gadgets and smart chats could not be missing in this selection of the application of technology to deal with the coronavirus.

Through specialized web portals and digital platforms, the Chinese authorities have managed to avoid trips to health centers and, therefore, new infections. The system is simple. Basically it consists of registering on these platforms and creating a user with all personal data. After creating a user, the registered person must fill out an online form in which data such as the city in which they are located, if they present symptoms of COVID-19 or if they have traveled to high-risk areas are added. After including such data, a QR Code is generated in green, yellow or red, depending on the probability of being infected. If the person is moving around the country, they must show the QR code that they have. In this way,Health authorities also have an approximate record of possible cases, as well as the locality where the main sources of contagion are found.

On the other hand, a mobile application was developed in South Korea that has been essential for controlling the spread of COVID-19. This app, called “Corona 100m”, is based on a GPS location system through which users can know if they have traveled through places where COVID-19 cases have been previously detected, as well as the date on which they confirmed the contagion. In addition, it also alerts the user when it is less than 100 meters from a place that has been frequented or visited by an infected person.

In parallel, other applications have been designed to carry out medical follow-ups for people who are quarantined at home. Again, through geolocation systems, restrooms receive an alert regarding which people should be placed in quarantine in order to see if they have been within 2 meters of an infected person. Once informed of the quarantine, the isolated person receives a call twice a day to follow up on the symptoms and evolution of the disease.

Artificial intelligence in the fight against the coronavirus

Artificial intelligence has also played an extremely important role in this challenge against the coronavirus.

AI has also been applied in the field of pandemic prevention and control. In this sense, the development of automated applications aimed at temperature monitoring stands out. Its main objective is to identify those people who have feverish symptoms to carry out actions to prevent the disease. At the same time, we distinguish another similar facial recognition system that quickly identifies those who are not masks, helping the authorities in their preventive work.

Drones and robots

Robotics is gradually being introduced in the health and medical field, and its uses have been adapted in this health emergency.

Robots that were originally designed to meet business needs are being used in Chinese hospitals. These robots perform simple but essential tasks, such as delivering food, medicine or other products to those patients who were located in an isolation area. In this way, a double problem is faced: the need for healthcare workers is met and the risk of contagion between patients and healthcare providers is reduced.

Another important role, such as disinfection, has been carried out by drones. In this sense, drones have been used in the Chinese country to disinfect public places. In addition, with some tweaks, speakers have been added to spread awareness and prevention messages and, through the installation of thermal cameras, they can also analyze the body temperature of passers-by.