SMC Covid19 Tracker app for iPhone and iPad

Surat Municipal Corporation(SMC) has taken various initiatives to fight different diseases.

A team of developers at the Information Technology (IT) department of SMC has developed SMC Patient Tracker System which includes a web portal and mobile application named “SMC Patient Tracker” to track people who have abroad or interstate travel history and persons who have come in direct contact with different diseases.

Details of travelers and other individuals are collected through various sources like Self Declaration form on SMC website, calls received on helpline number, international traveler information received from Government of India(GoI), etc.

The brief about the functioning of the application is given below:

1. SMC has published Self Declaration Form on website www.suratmunicipal.gov.in where individuals can submit their details including their abroad or interstate travel history. Upon submission of details, an SMC is sent to individuals with unique Traveller ID and are asked to download SMC Patient Tracker Mobile App.

2. SMC has also started a helpline number 1-800-123-800 where a citizen can share details about travellers or suspects. The details are verified by the SMC team including health officials. A field team visits the location and if the details provided on the helpline is verified, the individual is asked to stay in home quarantine and they are also assigned unique Traveller ID and are asked to download SMC Patient Tracker Mobile.

3. Individuals have to fill questionnaire twice a day (Morning 10 AM and Evening 9 PM) through SMC Patient Tracker App regarding their health. After due consultation of health officials, we have prepared three questions in the questionnaire viz., if a person has fever, cough or difficulty in breathing. With this questionnaire, an individual has to also send their Selfie (Photo). If any individual mentions issue in questionnaire regarding their health, initial follow-up is done over the phone and if required, individuals are asked to visit nearby health facility for necessary check-up and treatment.

4. After successful installation of app, individuals have to send their location every hour to confirm that they are following home quarantine on regular basis. SMC team monitors the location history of individuals if any individual is found not following the home quarantine guidelines, strict actions are taken against such individuals.

5. For every individual asked to stay in home quarantine, daily house to house follow-up is also done by SMC Team. Follow up done by SMC team is also captured through the system.

6. If any individual has developed symptoms during home quarantine and has been shifted to hospital, individuals who have come in contact with suspects are entered in system under contact history so that they can be linked to understanding the contact tracing. If the person admitted to hospital is found positive, the contacts are asked to follow quarantine.

7. Necessary MIS reports are prepared in the system and new reports are being developed as per requirements of health department.

The system developed by SMC was reviewed by Government of Gujarat and Government of Gujarat in considering implementing the same for the entire state.