The CDC Launches ‘Coronavirus Self-Checker’ Bot For US Citizens
Image via Shutterstock
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Microsoft Azure’s Healthcare Bot service have launched a “coronavirus self-checker” bot, called Clara, to field questions about potential COVID-19 symptoms and recommend appropriate medical solutions and contacts.
The virtual tool will only be available in the US, where, as of 22 March 2020, has more than 15,200 reported COVID-19 cases and 200 deaths. Microsoft explains that Clara will aid in determining whether a person is in need of medical help, as screening all patients with cold or flu-like symptoms can lead to a “bottleneck that threatens to overwhelm health systems coping with the crisis.”
Using artificial intelligence, Clara will answer queries from people in the US, allowing medical professionals to direct their attention to those experiencing critical conditions, per TechCrunch.
However, the bot will not provide diagnosis or treatment prescriptions. It simply guides people through questions about their symptoms, and then gives them recommendations on medical care.
Clara follows Apple in helping to screen users for possible symptoms of the novel coronavirus. Apple users can now check with Siri for more informed steps to take to allay their concerns about COVID-19.
Patients with #COVID19 have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness. Symptoms include fever, cough, or shortness of breath. Learn more about COVID-19 symptoms: https://t.co/ehL8kmRHaN pic.twitter.com/0am2j0zhfE
— CDC (@CDCgov) March 22, 2020
[via TechCrunch, cover image via Shutterstock]
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