The app will ask people about their symptoms and offer guidance on whether they may have COVID-19, the potentially lethal illness caused by the coronavirus, said Bernardo Mariano, chief information officer for the WHO. Several countries are ramping up contact tracing, or the process of finding, testing and isolating individuals who crossed paths with an infectious individual. The WHO expects its app to draw interest in other countries, including some in South America and Africa where case numbers are rising. "We would be leaving behind the ones that are not able to (provide an app), that have fragile health systems." The WHO plans to release guidance as soon as next week on issues countries should consider as they weigh their own proximity tracing apps.

Source: bd News24 May 08, 2020 19:52 UTC