AlHosn app to help UAE return to normalcy
dubai — As the Ministry of Health and Prevention launched a nationwide campaign to encourage people to download the UAE’s official Covid-19 testing and contact tracing app — AlHosn UAE, doctors have urged that this one step can help get back to normal life.
Dr Walid Shaker, consultant of cardiac surgery, Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi, who also handles a number of Covid-19 emergency cases, said the app will limit the spread of the virus and is a practical way to help get back to normal life.
“This is a very important app that can help in isolating the Covid-19 positive people and breaking the lockdown as it will control the infection by identifying people who either have Covid-19 or have been in contact (or close proximity) to people who are infected. It has encrypted secure tracing identifier that is exchanged locally on devices of people in close proximity to another but for that you need to keep your Bluetooth on at all times,” Dr Shaker said.
Highlighting another important aspect of the app, he said: “It can notify the authorities if a person who has been asked to isolate himself ventures out from his isolated area. This will keep both the patient in check as well as the authorities informed.”
Dr Shaker said the app can also help healthcare workers in hospitals as they can direct the patient to either the Covid negative area or isolation areas.
“When a person comes for any surgery or test, healthcare workers have to take a number of precautions as we don’t know if he or she is Covid negative or positive. So, if the person has this app, then it will facilitate the acceptance of the patient in non-Covid area in the facility. The patient won’t need any isolation,” he added.
Dr Prasad Narasimha, specialist anaesthetist at NMC Speciality Hospital, Al Ain, said the app plays a crucial role in contact-tracing. “Every user will have a QR code that indicates a guide to his health condition. It also has a feature where the person can know whether he or she has been in contact with anyone who tested positive for Covid-19. And all this is done without touching your personal data. And the health authorities will only need to access the contact data list of the infected person.” He added that if one has the app, he or she can get tested more quickly.
“Contact tracing happens only when the person tests positive and it helps authorities monitor you and your contacts on a real-time basis. Therefore, it is important that everyone downloads this app and help the government contain the virus,” he said.