CoronaCheck

The self-assessment tool has been developed in collaboration with infectious disease experts at the Aga Khan University Hospital. The tool is an interactive Artificial Intelligence (AI) -based questionnaire that individuals can use to evaluate their symptoms and monitor their health. The tool includes a series of questions about symptoms, such as fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, as well as questions about risk factors, such as recent travel or close contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus. Based on the answers to these questions, the tool provides a preliminary assessment of whether an individual may have COVID-19 and advise them to seek medical attention.

To help populations gain a comprehensive understanding, the application (along with the self- assessment tool) is translated into the local languages, i.e., Urdu for Pakistan, Swahili for East Africa, Arabic for Arabic-speaking countries and Tajik for Tajikistan.

The counselling preface provides information about COVID-19 and its transmission, as well as guidance through educational videos (sourced from the World Health Organization (WHO)) on what to do if you suspect you have the virus. The location of the nearest testing center and a list of national helplines is also provided.

CoronaCheck was launched in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique and for Arabic-speaking countries in 2020 and received significant attention as the first of its kind digital self-screening application. Since its launch, the application has been downloaded by over 100,000 users, with a total of 4,581 completed self-assessments on the app in 2022. Individuals who utilized the self-assessment tool were provided with recommendations that included seeking immediate medical care (Plan A), opting for non-urgent teleconsultations instead of visiting a health facility (Plan B), and adhering to precautionary measures and practicing social distancing (Plan C). CoronaCheck was able to help prevent unnecessary hospital visits, curbing risk of spread, while also ensuring that diagnostic testing in health facilities is only availed by those who need it most.