Walsall OAPs devise coronavirus help app

Coronavirus Help was written and developed by members of Ryecroft Community Hub’s over 70s group with the aim of giving people easy access to useful information as well as busting myths that are doing the rounds.

And the Android-based app has already been downloaded by more than a 1,000 people from as far as the United States and Europe, with praise being heaped on it.

The hub has also been providing food parcels and cooked meals to more than 150 people per week during the crisis but wanted to reach more people with advice.

Dave Taylor, Ryecroft Community Hub centre manager, said the over 70s group write mobile apps and were working on one for history tours of the town when the lockdown happened. So, they switched their attention to devising Coronavirus Help to provide a one-stop application containing important advice and information.

As well as giving information on the virus and health matters, there are helpful links for people who are self-employed or on benefits. There are also links for parents who are at home teaching their children while the app can be translated into a range of different languages – including sign.

Unfortunately, they were unable to get a licence for it for Apple so it is available on Android devices only. The group initially wanted to release the app three weeks ago but there were issues with getting it on Google Play due to it containing the word coronavirus.

But Walsall Council officers stepped in to help and wrote to Google, which enabled it to be released on Monday.

Mr Taylor said the group have taken to the digital world so well that two of the volunteers, Doris and Peter Clarke have become digital ambassadors for the NHS in the area – helping to show others who to use tablets.

Mr Taylor said: “In response to the virus, we have developed a mobile app and it collates all useful information. It has lots of information about the virus, self-isolating, how to care for people and it translates into many different languages, including a sign section.

“It’s got things like falls prevention exercises for the elderly so they don’t end up going into hospital and putting more strain on the NHS as well as putting themselves at risk.

“We have information for parents educating their kids with links on to BBC Bite-size and other resources.

“Another idea behind the app is to combat a lot of fake information going around. We had one woman tell us that she isn’t going to get coronavirus because she saw on social media that if she had an onion in her pocket, she wouldn’t get it!

“So there is a myth-busters page so people get all the right information. We have got a lot in one app – such as guidance for self-employed people and benefit claimants. It has a lot of useful information on it and we’ve added a lot of things to it as we developed it.”

He added: “It has been downloaded more than a 1,000 times since Monday when it was launched and people are liking it at the moment.

“It has gone all over the world. Had a man send me an email from New York, saying he had more information from our app than he had from his own Government!

“An ex-pat in Spain contacted us to say because it translates into Spanish, he’s been showing it to his friends.”