As more Caribbean islands reopen, new protocols are being introduced on a continuous basis to woo visitors while ensuring the safety of citizens. Among the measures some islands have implemented is the use of apps to track people's movements in the event they test positive for COVID-19 and provide them with information they need to keep them up to date on COVID-19 protocols.
Here are some islands utilising apps to assist in their efforts to curb COVID-19.
Curacao: Dushi Stay App
Labelled as one of the first apps of this kind, Dushi Stay gives travellers access to entry requirements, new island-wide protocols, emergency contact numbers and health tips, as well as open restaurants, attractions, beaches, etc. all at their fingertips.
Grenada: Ronatrac Contact Tracing app
With the Ronatrac Mobile App travellers to Grenada can provide their own self-health assessments. The application is aimed at augmenting the initiatives of the Government of Grenada, particularly the Ministry of Health, in proactively reaching out to and informing the users of the app regarding preventative measures, risks factors, best practices and relevant advisories pertaining to the containment of COVID-19.
Available for download on Android and iOS devices, the app was developed through a public private partnership with Amber Group Limited, and is an easy-to-use, centralised source for the government's COVID-19 information and services. The app allows citizens to self-report their health status, book an appointment for testing if they are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, as well as request emergency services such as the police or ambulance services. Jamaicans wishing to return home are asked to use the immigration/travel tab within the app to register for the government’s controlled re-entry programme. This entire process from application to approval to completing the immigration and customs declaration is managed online through the app. The Bahamas: Hubbcat App
All travellers to The Bahamas must submit install the Hubbcat app on their cellular phones for purposes of contact tracing. Visitors should download the app prior to travel in order to expedite their arrival process.
As St Kitts and Nevis prepares to reopen, the Chief Medical Officer Dr. Hazel Laws said that the app will be launched shortly after officials finalise some legal requirements. The app will have geo-fencing features to monitor the location of people to ensure they are not outside of where they ought to be. The feature will aid in contact tracing if any positive cases of COVID-19 are detected. The app will also contain a clinical management aspect which will allow an individual to communicate with the health authorities if they experience difficulty breathing.