A Canada-based company is switching to blockchain technology in its efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic in Latin America.

Emerge, a blockchain startup based in Toronto, is launching a public safety system app named Civitas to aid local authorities in various nations. According to a company blog post, the app was created “to improve safety and cut store wait times by reducing gatherings in tight spaces, reducing the probability of contagion.” 

The software program could connect locals’ government ID numbers with individual blockchain records, permitting authorities to decide if they fit for permits to leave their homes. If citizens report they are undergoing coronavirus-like symptoms, the app could aid in determining which days are most reliable for them to go out for essentials such as food and medicine.

Central America in lockdown over pandemic

Approximately a third of the nine million people in Honduras have been under lockdown since mid-March, several of whom reside in the capital city, Tegucigalpa. People who infringe quarantine in these areas can face hefty fines or penalties if they leave their homes without reason.

Civitas would probably allow doctors in Honduras to track these symptoms and incorporate any notes linked to the patient’s care. Such data would solely be available to the user and healthcare provider, with the emphasis placed on privacy.

Countries employing blockchain technology against coronavirus

While some countries are depending on the latest technology to trace the virus, blockchain has been emphasized prominently in the battle against the recent pandemic worldwide.

The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Community Development (MOCD) has started relying on the application of digital identity via blockchain-based systems and chat systems for the digital authentication of official certificates and other documents. This enables workers to exercise sheltering in place while working from home.

In the Netherlands, distributed ledger technology firm Tymlez has provided its blockchain platform to model the supply chain of medical goods to counter price gouging.