Abu Dhabi’s health department launches Covid-19 home isolation smart service on WhatsApp

The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Public Health Center, has launched the Covid-19 home isolation programme smart service on its verified WhatsApp business channel.

The new free-to-use service acts as a source of information for the enrolled patients in the programme.

The automated “Chatbot” service will allow citizens to get answers to the most common questions about the virus and home isolation recommendations from the DoH 24/7.

“We continue to focus our efforts on the current health crisis to curb the spread of Covid-19 and maintain the health and wellbeing of all members of the community. Through this service, we always strive to employ all possible means to support the patients and provide them and the wider community with reliable and timely healthcare services to keep them safe and healthy,” said Dr. Jamal Mohammaed Al Kaabi, acting under-secretary of the DoH Abu Dhabi.

Ramez Shehadi, managing director, Facebook MENA, commented, “At difficult times like these, people use WhatsApp more than ever to connect with and support their friends, family and communities.”

To use the free Covid-19 home isolation programme smart service on WhatsApp, save the number +97124193399 in your phone contacts and text the word [Hi] in a WhatsApp message to get started. A set of menu options is then presented to the user from which he/she can choose, and then be sent relevant guidance from DoH Abu Dhabi.

Earlier this month, Abu Dhabi’s health department collaborated with the Advanced Technology Research Council to introduce a unified platform to support R&D efforts in the combat against the ongoing pandemic.

Read: Abu Dhabi’s Department of Health launches platform to supports virus-related research

The ‘National Registry for COVID-19‘ platform, available at DoH’s website, would facilitate scientific discoveries to tackle the contagion, provide real-time updates, and highlight the role of research to better understand and combat the virus.

The UAE has reported a total of 42,294 infections and 289 deaths since the virus broke out in China late last year.