Abu Dhabi: The Department of Health-Abu Dhabi has launched a new application “Stay Home” to ensure that people asked to self-quarantine adhere to mandatory quarantine requirements.
The new app, which comes in line with the department’s ongoing efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19, will also ensure that home-quarantined people do not mingle with others during the quarantine duration.
The “Stay Home” app will enable the Department to stay informed of the whereabouts of people who are in mandatory home quarantine, determine their location and ensure that the conditions of the quarantine are not violated in the best interests of them, their families and society.
“Every person asked to self-quarantine at home will get a username and password to be able to use the app. The app then sends alerts that inform users to stay within the range of movement allowed during the quarantine” Abu Dhabi Media Office tweeted.
The Department of Health said the application is, “Among the series of comprehensive measures and preventative actions taken to safeguard the health and safety of the community. The app will enable the DoH to stay informed of the whereabouts of people who are in mandatory home quarantine, determine their location and ensure that the conditions of the quarantine are not violated."
The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention has earlier defined quarantine as a restriction on the movement of people who may have been exposed to the novel coronavirus, but do not yet have a medical diagnosis to confirm that they are not infected. The exposure to the virus could have occurred because of contact with a person confirmed or suspected to be infected, or during travel to an endemic area.
If an individual is identified for home quarantine, he or she will be asked to download the app from either Google Play or Apple Store. A username and password is also provided. Once the app is downloaded, the user must enable access to camera, media, location, audio and calls for the app to work correctly.
The DoH will periodically send notifications asking the individuals to check in. The user then has to take a photo on the app and finalise the check in.
The app will then confirm the check-in with a message that reads “The DoH thanks you for your effort in keeping the country safe”.
The UAE has earlier announced jail terms and fines between Dh10,000 and Dh50,000 for those who violate quarantine restrictions.
The app is available on Apple Store and Google Play.
