Bahrain has turn out to be the primary nation on the planet to supply COVID-19 check outcomes by way of WhatsApp and Fb Messenger.
The announcement comes as governments across the globe experiment with launching their very own official chat channels, together with Singapore, New Zealand and the World Well being Group.
The Bahrain Outcomes Service, which is out there in English and Arabic, was launched by the Kingdom’s Ministry of Well being as a part of efforts to fight the continuing international well being disaster.
The chatbot supplies up-to-date info on the unfold of the Coronavirus and supplies direct hyperlinks to YouTube how-to movies in addition to the nation’s official COVID-19 Be Conscious app.
The free chat service was constructed utilizing the WhatsApp Enterprise API and the worldwide communication platform Infobip to offer important info to residents and residents.
Dr Waleed Al Manea, from Bahrain’s Ministry of Well being, stated: “We’re working to achieve a bigger and wider neighborhood in our well being efforts to fight the unfold of Covid-19.”
As international lockdowns start to raise, Bahrain – one of many first nations on the planet to ease journey restrictions – is taking numerous steps to arrange for the subsequent part of the disaster.
Final month, the Kingdom – which is fifth on the planet for testing charges – launched a devoted app to trace confirmed circumstances, with these in self-isolation required to put on tamper-evident bracelets monitoring their location. 1 / 4 of the nation has now downloaded the “BeAware” app, which robotically alerts customers if they arrive into contact with an lively case.
Different initiatives embody turning public buses into cellular testing items and quickly constructing discipline hospitals to deal with circumstances.
Bahrain has made numerous early interventions on COVID-19, together with screening at factors of entry, journey restrictions to high-risk areas, and speedy isolation and testing of suspected circumstances.
On March 19, Bahrain grew to become the primary Arab nation to hitch the WHO’s solidarity check, with the goal of pooling sources to provide a remedy for the illness.
Three weeks later, the Kingdom’s malls reopened as a part of a phased strategy, with residents and residents capable of take a voluntary COVID-19 check at most of the areas.