Can technology help humans fight an epidemic?

China and the rest of the world have been facing huge challenges due to the outbreak of the coronavirus. The virus has so far claimed the lives of more than 2,000 people, with the vast majority in mainland China, and more than 75,000 people are estimated to have been infected according to CBS News.
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The speed at which the Chinese people have moved and the rapid deployment of technology in an effort to contain this epidemic has been impressive.

Artificial Intelligence & robots combating a medical outbreak

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robots have been called to the front line to contribute to the containment of the coronavirus outbreak. The Chinese are putting technology to good use to eliminate human contact, alleviate overworked medical staff and prevent this highly infectious disease from spreading further.
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How?

Drones are being used to check the temperature of people who are confined in their apartment buildings.

Robots are being deployed in hospitals to offer services to people in quarantine and reduce the chance of medical staff getting infected.

​A number of disinfection robots are being used in isolation wards, ICUs, operating rooms and fever clinics to provide disinfection services around the clock. ​​

A disinfection robot designed and produced by Shanghai TMiRob is on display during an exhibition. [Photo/ Shanghai TMiRob]. Source: China Daily.

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Robots patrol the parks and streets to inform the public about epidemic prevention and control.

Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the power grid of Chuzhou has sent intelligent robots instead of staff to patrol along the 60 substations across the city. Source: People’s Daily China.

​So, can technology help humans fight an epidemic? The future looks promising.