Three Kenyan firms have joined together to develop an app, “Linda app”, that will aid you in knowing when you are in close proximity with a COVID-19 patient.
Bob Ndumbi, the lead partner in the project said the mobile application will use Bluetooth technology to alert a user whenever a positive person was near and thus reminding them to keep a distance.
The app will use data from the Ministry of Health to help keep users in the know for a coronavirus patient.
Speaking to reporters, Ndumbi said the application would work with data from the government such that the numbers of those tested for the coronavirus whether positive or negative, will be used in the programme.
“So if their (COVID-19 patient) Bluetooth is on and yours is on, and we encourage the public to leave their Bluetooth on, your Bluetooth will vibrate and that will warn you to keep distance,” he explained.
The app will also assist in contact tracing since the Bluetooth technology will help identify the people who came in contact with a positive case.
Thirdly, Ndumbi said the application would encourage people to stay home since there are promotions on the app where people could win prizes for social distancing.
“If you stay home for seven days, you stand a chance to win prizes such as data bundles for the younger generation or but we are also building rewards such as shopping vouchers,” the lead partner said.
In addition, the app has a self-assessment feature which is based on the guidelines by the World Health Organisation (WHO) so that medics can know people who are in danger zones.
Ndumbi added that the app would help maintain the flow of information to counter COVID-19 misinformation
