Mobile application to support residents

Alison Arwady, MD, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, speaks about the Chi COVID Coach app and how it will give daily guidance for those who are in self-isolation and quarantine. Photo courtesy of City of Chicago
Alison Arwady, MD, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, speaks about the Chi COVID Coach app and how it will give daily guidance for those who are in self-isolation and quarantine. Photo courtesy of City of Chicago

Mobile application to support residents

BY TIA CAROL JONES

A new web-based, mobile-friendly application was launched on Monday, April 27, by Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Alison Arwady, M.D., commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health with the goal of supporting Chicago residents during COVID-19.

Chi COVID Coach was built in partnership with Google and MTX. Frisco, Texas-based MTX has been at the forefront of providing state government agencies, as well as health offi cials, with applications to monitor the coronavirus outbreak.

“We are dedicated to enabling the city of Chicago, with data-driven technology, to connect with Chicagoans in real-time, deliver vital information around the outbreak, and counter this pandemic through thoughtful connectivity,” MTX Chief Strategy Officer Maera Siddiqi said in a statement.

The app will allow for direct communication between the Chicago Department of Public Health and Chicagoans who experience COVID-19 symptoms, or who are COVID-19 positive, and give them important information and guidance while they are dealing with the disease.

Brent Mitchell, director of state and local government for Google Cloud, said the company was proud to partner with the city on this initiative.

“Our focus is helping local governments navigate the pandemic, while providing a foundation for the future of citizen services,” he said. “The city’s Chi COVID Coach uses Google Cloud’s technology to serve residents with real-time information and advice, and it also delivers critical information to leaders as they navigate the pandemic.”

Lightfoot said this new tool in fighting the virus is yet another example of how the best defense in fighting the disease is information.

“Every time we’ve taken a step against COVID-19, it has been led by the data. Models and science that we have actively sourced. And, all of it builds toward our singular goal of halting the spread of this disease, getting beyond this crisis and most importantly, saving lives,” she said.

Lightfoot added that using data and science and models have resulted in Chicago making progress in flattening the curve of COVID-19.

She added the app will provide individualized text messages with COVID-19 advice, off er daily check-ins for those with COVID-19 symptoms and connect people with testing resources, all of which will help the city to deepen its understanding of the communities most impacted by the virus and develop solutions for the best path forward, the mayor said.

The new app will also allow residents to pre-register for vaccine dissemination once it becomes available, as well as where to seek medical care and how to connect to testing sites. However, Lightfoot encouraged people to continue with social distancing practices in addition to wearing facial coverings.

“This is another example of us being proactive and getting ahead of the curve when it comes to COVID-19,” Lightfoot said. “We’ve come a long way in this crisis because the vast majority of Chicagoans have heeded this advice and stepped up to do their part, but we still have a long way to go.”

Arwady said this is the first version of the app, but it will be continuously refi ned, developed and more functionality will be added. She said the information will only be used by the Chicago Department of Public Health.

“We’ll give you day-to-day guidance through a potential isolation and quarantine period,” Arwady said. “Further down the line when reliable anti-body testing is available, it will allow us to look back and see who has had symptoms and help make sure they know when reliable testing is available to them.”

To sign up for the Chi COVID Coach app, visit www.cityofchicago.

gov/coronavirus.

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