Abu Dhabi’s Department of Health and the United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain have teamed up to develop a mathematical model that will help track — and pre-empt — the spread of Covid-19.
The algorithms in the computer-based model will be able to track the movement of the virus through Abu Dhabi emirate by monitoring the movement of people. The model creates a map that shows where the virus is spreading fastest and will help the authorities to allocate resources, such as hospital beds, accordingly, and also decide if any locations need to be partly or fully closed off.
Dr Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, acting undersecretary at the Abu Dhabi Department of Health, said the system was “more than 90 percent” accurate.
The data collected by the mathematical model will also collect valuable information on different communities, such as the ages of residents and any past or current illnesses.
The collaboration between the Department of Health and the university involves researchers and experts from both institutions in various disciplines, including epidemiology, public health, data science, artificial intelligence, engineering and transport analysis.
Dr Al Kaabi said the collaboration showed Abu Dhabi was determined to “stay ahead of the curve” in being prepared to meet all the community’s healthcare needs.
“The system is able to anticipate the necessary resources and numbers of daily casualties in the short term with an accuracy rate of more than 90 percent,” he said.
“We continue our approach based on scientific research and the implementation of modern technologies to ensure high quality healthcare treatment is accessible to all residents in Abu Dhabi. This also demonstrates the department’s targeted prevention approach. This represents the cornerstone of our vision, and will continue along the same path, determined to contain and control Covid-19.”
