Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has tapped artificial intelligence to closely monitor and track cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
To ease the burden of contact tracing, the city government adopted the scheme to automate tracking and monitoring of suspected and probable cases.
On July 26, she spearheaded the launching of the BANTAI COVID project designed to remotely reach and monitor those who have been exposed to COVID-19 positive individuals in a real-time manner and via short message service.
“The latest method will help spare healthcare workers from unnecessary exposure and risks,” she said.
As a recovered COVID-19 patient, she said she understands the worries of those battling the disease, particularly the asymptomatic patients.
The city mayor has just recovered from COVID-19.
“Aside from medical advice, we want them to know they have someone to turn to or consult whenever they feel the need. We’re happy this project will address this,” she noted.
BANTAI COVID is made possible through close collaboration with the Philippine Medical Association, private enterprise VIREO Loadworks, and the Quezon City Medical Society.
Calling the project “timely,” she said the city is thankful that the city has been chosen as the pilot site for its implementation.
“We welcome this project as this pandemic has driven all of us to innovate and find new ways to address our emerging problems,” she added.
According to Dr. Rolando Cruz, head of the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, the artificial intelligence-based project would help build a centralized database repository for patients’ information and data that is accessible to health workers at any particular time.
“This will give us a daily census of patients’ real-time status including the date of their admission, discharge and recovery, among others. There will be more data for us to interpret and use,” he said.
“Our health workers, including volunteer doctors, will be able to pull out a record and conduct triage, and refer the patient to any hospital or quarantine facility as needed,” he said.
