Corporation launches home quarantine monitoring app

CHENNAI: The Greater Chennai Corporation launched home quarantine and isolation monitoring system (HQIMS), a smartphone application to monitor such persons, on Friday. Corporation Commissioner G Prakash launched the app that the developer, Cooper Inc Company, gifted to the civic body.

"Friend of COVID citizen Under Surveillance (FOCUS) volunteers will use the app to monitor the persons under quarantine and isolation. At present, we are using a manual list to track such persons. The app will have the details of quarantined persons and the quarantine period so that volunteers can easily track and help the residents," said a Corporation official.

Earlier, the volunteers had to collect lists of quarantined persons and their requirements from the ward officers every day. This can now be done through the app.

The official added that another version of the app was in the works so that tax collectors and assessors, and license surveyors could monitor information uploaded by the volunteers.

The civic body has appointed around 3,300 FOCUS volunteers to ensure the quarantine persons remain inside and follow norms. They would also help the quarantined persons to buy essential items. The civic body has appointed the volunteers to cover all the streets in the city.

Meanwhile, Prakash said that of around 22,000 active COVID-19 cases in the city, 50 per cent of patients are under home quarantine.

The civic body also quarantines the persons, who are discharged from hospitals and COVID care centres for 14 days.