Governor County Government of Kisumu presided launch of COVIDConnect mobile app in Kenya

The service is branded Luscii App and is available on Google Playstore and Apple Store.

To access the service, users are required to sign up and record their symptoms such as fever, cough, breathing rate, sore throat etc., after which a team of medical doctors will evaluate the user symptoms and provide them with the required medical support.

How the Luscii App works 

• Download the Luscii app via Google Play Store (Android version 7 or higher) or App Store (Apple version iOS 12 or higher).
• Fill in your details as requested to register. You will receive an email with a confirmation code that will enable you to complete your registration.
• Record your symptoms on a daily basis. There are different ratings of the symptoms to indicate their severity. You are asked to fill in your symptoms.
• If need be, a  team of health professionals  will analyze data on your symptoms and contact you via messaging in the app or phone call within 48 hours to provide you with the needed medical support and guidance.
• If there is no medical indication to call you, you will receive a message within 24 hours.
• You can indicate in the app if you want to be called back.
• Every morning the COVID Connect team will send users a reminder to record their symptoms.

Who can sign up to the Luscii App?

The Luscii App is currently available to all persons aged 18 years and above.

Users will need a smartphone or tablet or other mobile device with Android version 7 or higher or Apple iOS 12 or higher and an internet connection and to access the application.

The Vice-Chancellor of Maseno University, Prof. Julius Nyabundi, says, “Maseno University is pleased to be part of COVIDConnect which ensures that prompt and accurate information gets to the public to enhance home-based intervention in order to decongest our hospitals”.

Prof. Ogendo, Dean, School of Medicine at Maseno University says, “The public need for trusted information on coronavirus has become urgent since the outbreak of the pandemic. COVIDConnect seeks to provide the general public with trusted and credible advice on the disease so as to alleviate fear and anxiety”.   

The application, which is provided at no cost to users is not a replacement of regular healthcare services but an additional service to expand the County’s Covid-19 response capacity. 

Kisumu Governor, Anyang Nyong’o says, “The COVIDConnect service will boost our capacity for early detection of suspected cases, testing and containment so that only those who require hospital care actually go to hospitals as well as support home based care, thereby enabling the county health facilities to reserve space for potential high risk patients”. 

The need for social distancing and infection prevention has necessitated new ways of accessing care without making trips to the hospital unnecessarily.  

Isaiah Okoth, Country Director, PharmAccess Kenya says, “Digital innovations are revolutionizing the healthcare space. Through this digital service, users are directly connected to a dedicated medical team who will remotely monitor their symptoms and provide quality medical support. At the same time the county is enabled to digitally monitor disease prevalence and respond adequately.” 

COVIDConnect is launched with support from Achmea Foundation.