Saudi Arabia Faces COVID-19 with Highest Technologies

General view of deserted streets, during the 24 hours lockdown to counter the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia April 7, 2020. (Reuters)
General view of deserted streets, during the 24 hours lockdown to counter the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia April 7, 2020. (Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Faces COVID-19 with Highest Technologies

General view of deserted streets, during the 24 hours lockdown to counter the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia April 7, 2020. (Reuters)
General view of deserted streets, during the 24 hours lockdown to counter the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia April 7, 2020. (Reuters)

Technologies greatly contribute to the rapid dissemination of health information among people.

Within this framework, the National Health Information Center in Saudi Arabia launched interactive platforms that provide important information about the COVID-19 virus.

The platforms include an interactive map in the Arabic language to monitor the numbers and cases of infections around the world, as well as providing a smart assistant to respond to inquiries in different languages.

CoronaMap.sa is a comprehensive interactive website that provides rich information about the virus, in addition to monitoring statistics around the world and offering instant updates, charts and illustrations, and latest news.

The site displays information on an interactive, easy-to-use map in both Arabic and English.

BashairBot is an artificial intelligence virtual assistant that responds to all inquiries and questions related to the virus in both Arabic and English, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

BashairBot can help in the initial diagnosis of the virus, provides data about the Kingdom and other countries, and links the user to an interactive platform to track the number of cases and statistics on the pandemic.

Interaction with the assistant in can be in both Arabic and English from the Coronamap site, by clicking on the robot icon on the side of the screen.

In parallel, the World Health Organization (WHO) is planning this month to launch an application that enables people in countries with limited resources to assess whether they are COVID-19-positive or not, while studying the possibility of adding a feature to track contacts based on Bluetooth.

Upon its launching, this application will be able to ask people about their symptoms, offer instructions on their possible infection with the virus, and provide information on how to take the test according to the user’s country.



Japan Witnesses Warmest Autumn on Record

This aerial image shows autumn leaves at their peak as they surround Tsutenkyo Bridge amongst the grounds of Tofukuji Temple, in the city of Kyoto on November 27, 2024. (Photo by JIJI Press / AFP)
This aerial image shows autumn leaves at their peak as they surround Tsutenkyo Bridge amongst the grounds of Tofukuji Temple, in the city of Kyoto on November 27, 2024. (Photo by JIJI Press / AFP)
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Japan Witnesses Warmest Autumn on Record

This aerial image shows autumn leaves at their peak as they surround Tsutenkyo Bridge amongst the grounds of Tofukuji Temple, in the city of Kyoto on November 27, 2024. (Photo by JIJI Press / AFP)
This aerial image shows autumn leaves at their peak as they surround Tsutenkyo Bridge amongst the grounds of Tofukuji Temple, in the city of Kyoto on November 27, 2024. (Photo by JIJI Press / AFP)

Japan has recorded its warmest autumn since records began 126 years ago, the weather agency said, delaying the country's popular displays of seasonal foliage into December.

"This year was 1.97 degrees Celsius higher than usual... making it the hottest autumn since 1898, when statistics began," the Japan Meteorological Agency said Monday on their website.

Between September and November, the temperature was 2.4 degrees Celsius higher than usual in Tokyo, 2.9 more in the central city of Nagoya and 1.2 warmer in northern Sapporo city.

The weather has delayed the country's autumn foliage season -- when tourists flock to see leaves turn vibrant reds and yellows.

In Kyoto, a railway company known for running trains through forests of illuminated maple trees at night has extended its schedule because leaf colors are not changing as quickly as usual.

According to the Japan Meteorological Corporation, the best time to see the autumn leaves in Tokyo is around December 5 and in Osaka on December 9, both later than usual.

Japan recorded its joint-hottest summer on record this year as extreme heatwaves, which scientists say are fueled by climate change, engulfed many parts of the world.

The famous snowcap of Mount Fuji was absent for the longest recorded period this year, not appearing until early November, compared with the average of early October.

Climate scientists forecast that 2024 will almost certainly be the hottest year on record.

Australia has meanwhile sweltered through its warmest spring on record, the country's weather bureau said Sunday, with temperatures 2.08 degrees Celsius above the average.

Australia's previous hottest spring -- running between September and November in the Southern Hemisphere -- was recorded in 2020.