Saturday, April 18, 2020

SOUTH KOREA GOES HI-TECH IN ANTI-COVID-19 MOVES



SOUTH KOREA STATISTICS: 
Confirmed Cases: 10,653
Recovered: 7,937
Deaths: 232

WORLDWIDE:
Confirmed: 2,240,191
Recovered: 568,343
Deaths 153,822


The experiences in South Korea show a very high tech  approach in stopping the Covid 19. 

1.    PUBLIC WARNING SYSTEMS
The South Koreans have installed public warning systems that blare survey results of their epidemiological studies.
(Epidemiology is the study of how often diseases occur in different groups of people and why.)

They also give details of cases, confirmed as to time and location of infection points visited by patients. This then warns the people about places that have to be avoided or be wary of entering or visiting.

Without frightening the public, the government provides full information of outbreaks, infections risks disseminated with “area-specific information via mobile emergency alerts, apps and websites, aside from daily briefings like our own radio and TV press conferences of DOH.

2.    OPEN DATA WEBSITE AND MOBILE APP
South Korea also has an Open Data Website and Mobile app that provide the same info, (statistis on cases of Covid 19)  as well as precautions to protect oneself from the disease, and which could be used by the people to monitor and report their conditions should they feel that their bodies are developing symptoms of Covid 19.
The database also teaches the users of the website to know where the nearest testing clinics are, the place near their place where they can avail of protective masks; as well as safe zones that they can visit.

3.    DRIVE-THROUGH VIRUS TESTING PROGRAMME.
So much like what a commercial company does in selling its products, the government has put up this virus testing program in 85 stations all over the country. KOREA has  approximately 85 such testing stations operating in different parts of the country
As of 19  March 2020, individuals may drive through just in ten minutes with their car, roll down the windows and wait for the results, which could be released in 3 days, delivered to their homes or sent through SMS.  In case the individual has to undergo a chest x-ray, locations of hospitals or public health clinics are pointed out.

4.    Compulsory self-quarantine monitoring application
A mobile app is required of symptomatic people waiting to be tested or those awaiting test as they are required to undergo self-quanrtine. Users are required to agree to the collection of their personal info and use of GPS information. So their movements are 24-7 checked. Once they violate the rules on quantine, they an be fined or imprisoned with the help of the police.
The app also allows the users to report their symptoms. It contains the info of the government official in charge of monitoring.
5.    Private sector responses
What is nice about all these is that local governments have solicited the assent of mobile network providers and cellphone companies to join in the campaigns.

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