To ensure Covid-positive patients adhere to mandatory isolation requirements and don’t further spread coronavirus, the Israel Police has adopted technology created by Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s emergency medical service.
The technology was originally developed by MDA for its own consumer and first-responder phone apps, which feature geolocation and live-video feed capabilities. These features enable the apps to instantly locate callers, immediately determine the EMTs and paramedics closest to the scene to respond, and enable MDA to see the scene remotely to determine the most appropriate response — whether it’s to dispatch a basic or advanced life support ambulance, or even a Medevac helicopter.
At the request of the Ministry of Public Security, MDA developed an app using that same technology for use by the Israel Police.
“Like our first-responder app, the police quarantine app has instant geolocation capabilities, so police can confirm Covid-positive patients are home, where they’re supposed to be,” said Ido Rosenblat, MDA’s chief information officer, whose programming team developed the app for police use.
“And because it leverages the camera and video-call capabilities built into every smart phone, police can call the patient and visually confirm that the patient is with the phone — and that the phone wasn’t left at home as a diversion while the patient is out on the town,” he said.
With the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant, enforcing isolation requirements is particularly crucial, MDA says. In fact, people leaving quarantine early and traveling on public transportation was cited this past summer as a factor in spreading the Delta variant in Israel.
“The quarantine app will hopefully prevent that from happening again,” Rosenblat said.
Since 2006, Magen David Adom has developed nearly all its software technology in-house, which is now used not just by MDA, but also by the Israeli National Fire and Rescue Service, the Philippines Red Cross, and Hatzalah South Florida in the U.S.
This latest app marks the first time, however, that MDA has leveraged its technology on behalf of the police.
“Keeping people safe from Covid is very much a health initiative, even if the police are the ones charged with enforcing the quarantine,” said Eli Bin, director-general of Magen David Adom.
“MDA is willing to help in any way we can, whether it’s administering fourth doses of the Covid vaccine to seniors — as we’re doing now — or sharing our technology. In a sense, we’re all in the lifesaving business, so coordinating our efforts is only natural.”
