Moroccan Team Develops Smart Mask for COVID-19 Detection and Tracing

Moroccan researchers are taking the search for effective solutions to help contain the spread of the pandemic seriously. It is in this context that the invention of the smart mask intervenes, which, according to the researchers, "also serves as a protective barrier". It was designed in "3D and contains a card and sensors for temperature, humidity and pressure, allowing to measure pressure and respiratory cycle, as well as the oxygen rate". It can be "used to fight against the coronavirus, but also for other cases of illness".

According to the MAP, "MIDAD" is one of the 6 projects selected for an international competition called "HakingCovid19", organized by HEC Paris and other partners. Out of more than 102 applications, Morocco was able to stand out. This is how a Moroccan investor proposed to finance the production of this mask which, according to the head of the scientific team, Dr. Mouhsine Lakhdissi, is "connected via Bluetooth to the Trackorona application which proposes the tracking of the user’s movements to detect their level of compliance with confinement and social distancing".

The application can be downloaded for free on a smartphone and allows "to upload the data from the mask, but also to know the people the user has been in contact with, in strict compliance with the law on the protection of personal data". This mask is a source of pride for the research community, even if the invention "remains open to improvements, adaptations and corrections made by experts", according to the MAP.

According to Dr. Lakhdissi, a patent application has already been filed to protect this invention which "will be launched in Open Source for Moroccan citizens and the government". This is an innovative project that has taken advantage of experiences undertaken in South Korea, Singapore, Germany and Switzerland on confinement, social distancing and disease detection via voice print.