A new app launched by the City of Chicago looks to better communicate with residents suffering with COVID-19 symptoms, and it could help Chicagoans access a vaccine once it becomes available.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot, along with Allison Arwady, the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), announced Monday that the city has launched Chi COVID Coach, a mobile-friendly web app that allows people to get health information during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Chi COVID Coach app allows residents to get text messages that are tailored to their symptoms, along with information on when and where to seek medical care. Users can also receive alerts on locations and times when COVID-19 testing is available, and it provides daily check-ins to monitor the well-being of residents who've tested positive for the coronavirus.
The app is also helping the city prepare for mass vaccinations once a vaccine is available. Even though a vaccine isn't expected for months, users are able to pre-register for vaccine dissemination, whether or not they are currently showing symptoms. The idea is to have the data ready once a vaccine in place.
The city says registration is free and is "protected and only used by CDPH for public health purposes related to COVID-19."
“Whether it is data or technology, we are using all of the tools we have available to inform our decisions and further expand our citywide response to this pandemic,” Lightfoot said in a statement. “This new app will also allow us to communicate directly with residents in real time, to answer questions about their symptoms and determine if they need medical attention. And this app will allow us to build upon our forward-looking strategy by developing a city registry for a future vaccine.”
The app, which was built in partnership with Google and IT company MTX, will be used to collect data about the virus’ spread and those that are seeking care, which will allow the CDPH to better understand Chicago's coronavirus health trends, the city said.
"Our focus is helping local governments navigate the pandemic, while providing a foundation for the future of citizen services,” Brent Mitchell, director of state and local government at Google Cloud, said in a statement. “The city’s Chi COVID Coach uses Google Cloud’s technology to serve residents with real-time information and advice, and it also delivers critical information to leaders as they navigate the pandemic.”
