UAE and Qatar develop digital tools to control spread of COVID-19

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) developed an app to identify high-risk COVID-19 patients. The Khalifa University of Science and Technology unveiled the app, dubbed ‘CovidSense’, that will collect data from phone users to identify whether they are in the COVID-19 ‘high risk’ category. The app will further assist users under quarantine to monitor their symptoms and location, while helping them with health control measures. On the other hand, Qatar-based deep technology startup ADGS designed a new tool, dubbed ‘Pandexit’, to battle COVID-19. Pandexit hinges on algorithms for computers to ethically reproduce human behaviour aiming at preventing the spread of COVID-19. The application is expected to be launched by the end of January 2021.