government releases app to slow spread of coronavirus… and fake news
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Contxto – Mexico’s Ministry of Health presented its app to help users during the coronavirus last Wednesday (1). Dubbed “COVID-19MX,” it provides tips and a basic questionnaire for users to determine if they have coronavirus.
It is now available for download on Android and iOS devices.
The app is an additional effort by the government to quell the spread of Covid-19. As of March 23, authorities had also ordered a shutdown of non-essential activities and a call for the general population to self-quarantine until April 19, but the mandate has been extended to April 29.
- Related article: As Latam balances protests and pandemics, Colombia launches Coronapp
App features to curb coronavirus spread
To access the questionnaire and other features, users will have to sign up. The information that’s submitted also helps authorities keep tabs on how the disease is spreading among the general population.
Moreover, through the questionnaire, the government hopes to deter people from going to healthcare centers and risk further spreading the disease.
If a person strongly suspects having become infected, the app will advise them to go to the nearest healthcare center. To that end, the app has a GPS feature that informs the user where the nearest hospitals are.
In addition, the app offers an FAQ block for all essential info related to the disease. And last, but certainly not least, there’s a section with updates from official healthcare authorities so as to discourage the spread of fake news.
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-ML
