Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, February 21, 2021 (AETOSWire) – Laipac Technology Inc., of Ontario, Canada, an award-winning leader in the development of IoMT (Internet of Medical Things) is pleased to announce their partnership with UAE companies YAS Pharmaceuticals LLC and Pure Health LLC, utilizing the power of the world’s first Rapid Covid-19 Antigen Test System using Artificial Intelligence. 

The LooK SPOT solution is an intelligent and innovative way to deploy technologies to better protect the health of people across the region. Being able to have a quick and accurate COVID-19 diagnosis can interrupt transmission, aid clinical management, and help proper allocation of resources to isolation. 

The European CE-IVD approved LooK SPOT AI COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test System is a smartphone-based diagnostic device with lateral flow immunoassay intended for the qualitative detection of nucleocapsid protein from SARS-CoV-2 in nasal swabs. The LooK SPOT Artificial Intelligence Ecosystem revolutionizes medical diagnostics, enabling early disease detection with consistent and accurate results. 

LooK SPOT AI COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test uses the nasal sample collected from 1 inch in the nostril. It uses Artificial Intelligence technology to deliver real-time test results within 5 to 8 minutes with 97.4% sensitivity and 98.3% specificity in detecting the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This Antigen test kit is one of the leading kits available in the market. LooK SPOT COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test can also detect the new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus which was first identified in the United Kingdom and South Africa. 

"LooK SPOT's AI Algorithm has high accuracy and can identify the colour signal on tests in low positive cases when human eyes cannot, therefore eliminating the human error and manual process done with other Antigen tests available in the market. LooK SPOT reduces healthcare responders' cognitive load by providing accurate test results in an easy-to-read format. LooK SPOT has been designed with a tactical edge to fight COVID-19." said Diego Lai. Co-Founder and CEO of Laipac. 

LooK PASS App can be downloaded from Apple or Google stores, to scan the LooK COVID-19 antigen cassette before the test, and test results can be received on smartphones within 5 to 8 minutes. Negative test results generate a QR code on the app which may be used as a Pass to enter a facility, events, gatherings or used for transport facilities. Via Pure Health, LooK SPOT will be able to provide a full API integration with multiple IT applications and travel applications for real time reporting. 

The Artificial Intelligence Rapid Antigen Test will be showcased at the LooK SPOT Stand 03-C22 at IDEX 2021 Abu Dhabi between 21-25 February.  AETOSWire

Workers prepare face shields from recycled plastics at the Zaidi Recyclers workshop as a measure to stop the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania May 21, 2020. Photo REUTERS/Stringer

NAIROBI (Reuters) - The World Health Organization’s director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said on Sunday the organization has yet to receive any information from Tanzania on what measures it is taking to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

“This situation remains very concerning. I renew my call for Tanzania to start reporting COVID-19 cases and share data,” Tedros said in a statement on WHO’s website.

Tedros said that in late January he had joined Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s Africa head, in urging Tanzania to scale public health measures against COVID-19 and prepare to distribute vaccines. “I also encouraged the sharing of data in light of reports of COVID-19 cases among travellers,” he said.

Tanzanian authorities were not immediately available for comment.

Tanzanian President John Magufuli has a reputation as one of the national leaders most sceptical of efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Wednesday, a senior politician died of COVID-19, his party said, adding to concern about a hidden epidemic running rampant in a country that insists it has no local transmission of the disease and says it has no plans to receive vaccines.

On Friday, during a funeral service for a senior aide, Magufuli urged Tanzanians to remove fear, take precautions and put God first. He also announced three days of national prayer, according to a statement by the presidency.

The government stopped reporting data on new coronavirus infections and deaths in May last year when it had registered 509 cases and 21 fatalities.

WHO’s Tedros said in his statement that he has spoken with several authorities in Tanzania since January but “WHO is yet to receive any information regarding what measures Tanzania is taking to respond to the pandemic.”

He called on the country to implement “public health measures that we know work in breaking the chains of transmission, and to prepare for vaccination.”

And he said Tanzanian travellers testing positive for COVID-19 abroad underscored “the need for Tanzania to take robust action both to safeguard their own people and protect populations in these countries and beyond.”

On Monday, Oman’s health minister said his country was considering suspending flights from Tanzania, after 18% of travellers arriving from Tanzania tested positive for COVID-19.

Thailand reported on Monday its first case of the highly contagious COVID-19 variant first identified in South Africa, in a Thai man who arrived from Tanzania. - Reuters

Kenya Airways Cargo's coldroom to be used for the storage of vaccines at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, on Feb. 11. Photo Tony Karumba/AFP/Getty Images

Kenya expects to get its first Covid-19 vaccines by the end of this month and inoculate 16 million of its roughly 53 million people by June next year, according to Health Secretary Mutahi Kagwe. 

The country will procure vaccines made by AstraZeneca Plc, Pfizer Inc. and Johnson & Johnson, and any others in the Covax facility, an initiative for developing countries to access doses, Kagwe said Friday in a statement. East Africa’s biggest economy targets 24 million doses from Covax and will buy another 11 million shots from other mechanisms.

The first vaccination phase covering 1.25 million people will prioritize health, security and immigration workers.

Kenya will decide by the of next week whether to approve vaccines from China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd. and AstraZeneca, and a Russian version known as Sputnik V, Fred Siyoi, head of the country’s drug regulatory authority, said by phone. - David Herbling, Bloomberg