The Gauteng Department of Health has added a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) feature to its Mpilo – Healthcare mobile app, which was launched last year to improve service delivery in healthcare facilities.
The Mpilo – Healthcare App is the department’s digital platform that empowers residents with healthcare-related information.
In the wake a national disaster being declared by President Cyril Ramaphosa as a result of the new coronavirus, the department has added a COVID-19 feature to the app to help increase public education and awareness.
Most importantly, it will help with contact tracing. The app currently has a self-screening feature but additional features will be added to improve the efficiency of the collection of daily information of confirmed contacts in the province.
When you are self-screening on the app, the user can answer ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to the questions below:
- Have you recently had any of the following symptoms? Cough, difficulty breathing or sore throat from an unexplained cause?
- Have you travelled to any country currently experiencing novel coronavirus infections within the past 14 days?
- Have you had contact with any person who has travelled to any country currently experiencing novel coronavirus infections within the past 14 days?
- Have you been in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 14 days?
- Are you a health worker (this includes any person working in a health facility) who may have come into contact with a confirmed or possible case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days?
After completing the self-assessment, a report will be submitted to the department through the app and results will be communicated to the user.
The app is available on both Android and IOS. Residents are encouraged to download it.
The app is currently zero rated with Telkom and Cell C, meaning it is free to use.