How has digital technology saved Corona victims?

Mobile operators have played a pivotal role in reporting the whereabouts of users, and have activated applications that help locate the closest people infected with the Coronavirus.

In a report in the Spanish newspaper "El Pais", the author Zigur Aldama said that Shanghai, the economic capital of China, wants to resume its activity after a month of stoppage due to the outbreak of the Corona epidemic (Covid-19) but is concerned about the return of migrant workers who are honing the economy of the Second World Force.

The author mentioned that the strict restrictions imposed on population movements adopted by China have caused nearly 60 million people to remain quarantined, most of them in Hubei Province, the source of the infection. But the Shanghai authorities, the mega city with a population of 24 million, do not trust information provided by newly arrived citizens. In this context, observers confirm that the one coming to the city of Shanghai "must prove that he was not in the danger areas in the last 14 days" while sending a "medical examination" by "SMS to his operator's number."

He indicated that the answer to this message arrives immediately. This short text message should explain in detail the sites that the user went to, through mobile phone network towers, a service provided by the three phone companies in China during the epidemic phase.

Short message service
In fact, this text message is not conclusive evidence but at least it works to endorse or deny information that people provide to the relevant authorities. After that, the monitoring committee will say goodbye to this person and say to him, "Thank you very much, please keep in mind that you must report your movements outside the city, knowing that any attempt to conceal this will leave you vulnerable to legal consequences."

The writer mentioned that the short message service contributed to the return of many public places to their previous activities. For its part, the Spanish consulate in Shanghai has warned that despite its return to normal activity, those who have left the city during the past two weeks may have problems accessing the building where the diplomatic representative is located.

The consulate has issued in a circular e-mail to the Spaniards confirming that it serves in many provinces of the country. "We appreciate your cooperation in strict compliance with the measures laid out by Jin Mao Tower."

The writer pointed out that some other companies have taken more stringent measures, so that the employee can reach the company's headquarters or return to work, the company needs to know if an injury was discovered in the neighborhood in which this employee resides. For this reason, these companies resorted to technology, by relying specifically on a "mini program" called "Yikiao Soo" that is downloaded into the WeChat application, the Chinese version of WhatsApp.

Using the global positioning system of a mobile phone, this program works to locate the person as it appears on the map of confirmed cases of infection in the surrounding areas.

The writer stated that the exclamation point shown on the map warns of the exact location where the cases infected with the Coronavirus are. The map of this place can be expanded by clicking on the icon. The color determines the period in which the competent authorities make sure that these people are infected with the virus. The darker the red, the closer the infection is.

Population controls - often used for repressive purposes - can now turn into a feature to contain the country's coronavirus. In addition, more than two hundred million cameras work to ensure people do not get quarantined. The new facial recognition systems developed by Sense Time also combine thermal cameras and improved algorithms to identify people even when they cover their faces with a mask.

Although the Chinese company realizes that this model is less reliable, it does work in at least three general areas of China. While the United States has blacklisted "Time Time" in the context of the technological war that erupted between the two countries, the system has crossed the borders of China and was adopted by the South Korean company "LG" in 26 entry points.

Thus, employees can enter the LGCNS subsidiary facilities without removing the mask they are protecting themselves in Seoul. With this technology, identity is determined in a period of 0.3 seconds with 99% efficacy.

The author notes that new systems have been developed in China to track population movements. One of these systems relies on the QR codes that have been included in Shanghai taxis since last Friday.

Passengers can also scan these codes using the "WeChat or Alipay" program - in which registration requires the sending of a copy of the ID card, and thus the government can monitor all the movements of these travelers. According to the authorities, this procedure determines the location of public transit users in the event of an infection being detected, and those who have communicated with the injured should be found.

Online payment
Currently, the use of this system is not mandatory in Shanghai, but cities such as Shenzhen, China's Silicon Valley, require its use even when the bus is reached. In Ningbo, residents should scan the code to enter the subway. In some other cities, facial recognition cameras are installed with built-in thermometers to detect who has the virus.

The author concluded that the electronic payment procedure has always been one of the other recommendations for authorities that many consider a key to preventing the spread of the virus. Although China has requested the purification of paper money, and even the destruction of banknotes used in areas most affected by the viral infection, the use of payment using QR codes reduces the chances of contacting the Coronavirus.

For example, Han (a taxi driver) warned, "I don't accept paying the fare in cash, I rather transfer money only by Wei Chat Bai, or Alipay. And these weeks, I prefer to use apps like Chinese Uber to avoid charging the money. And I don't go to the airport or station the train".