Desktop COVID19 Tracker With Clock! Raspberry Pi Powered Tracker

We know that we can die anytime, even I can die while writing this post, after all, I me, you, we all are mortals. The whole world shook because of COVID19 pandemic. We know how to prevent this, but hey! we know how to pray and why to pray, do we do it daily? No!! Actually, we forget the root cause of why we should do things. So, we know that an hygienic lifestyle can save us yet we don't do it properly. Consider the case of my younger brother, he wants to go out and play even in this time. I had to do something to consistently inform everyone about the latest cases of COVID19. So, I made a digial desk display that shows the latest cases of COVID19 in real time. As this has a clock then I can put it in a place where everyone gathers or comes. They'll see the numbers add up, which will trigger awareness in them and hopefully everyone will be conscious.
Also as I am a maker and hobbyist, this turned out to be a good project to work on in this lock-down session.

• Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (booted using sd card)
• Raspberry Pi UPS module (optional)
• 7 inch HDMI LCD Screen
• HDMI to HDMI cable (this comes with the screen)
• USB cables
• 5v 2A power adapter (to power the pi)
• PVC sheet [wooden color] (to make the body)

I guess you have set the pi up perfectly, unless you haven't -

1. get an SD card - more than 8 GB
2. download latest raspbian iso file from here.
3. Burn the SD card using etcher

(Note that people can say a about other software which requires you to do some setup thingy but etcher is super easy to use and simple but effective too.)

Just plug your SD card to pc, run etcher, you'll see the SD card is automatically selected by etcher, then click to select the downloaded iso file or image, then burn it. After successful writing and processing unplug SD card and connect it to your pi, power it and VOILA!! It's alive.

Connect everythingup and power up the raspbery pi, it is just connecting, nothing else.

You'll see the pi booting.

I cut a PVC sheet to according to the display size, then added it using screws. After that I wired everything up. At last added another sheet at back to support it from falling (blue sheet). If everything is okay, you should see the pi booting (last picture)

The program is written in python3. For GUI (Graphical User Interface) I used PyQt5, and to extract realtime COVID19 data I used COVID19Py library. Thanks to the guys who made the API available for us [[Kudos COVID19Py team]]. See doc in pypi.

That's pretty much it, now open up Terminal on raspberry pi and install libraries (copy each one of them and paste on rpi terminal).

Ignore $ sign while copying

$ pip3 install pyqt5

$ pip3 install requests
$ pip3 install covid19py

That's it, now download the code from here, I've provided the code below:

"""* Realtime Covid19 International and Local Tracker With Clock *"""

"""
************** Stay Home Stay Safe. Live, let Live *************
"""
"""
author: ashraf minhaj
mail: ashraf_minhaj@yahoo.com
site: ashrafminhajfb.blogspot.com
"""
#import necessary libraries
import PyQt5                        #QT GUI Library for python3
from PyQt5.QtCore import Qt, QTimer #timer to update
from PyQt5.QtWidgets import *       #import everything
from PyQt5.QtGui import QFont       #for fonts
import sys                    #necessary for QT applications
#import os
import COVID19Py  #covid19 information -api
import datetime   #you know what this is for
class CoronaTracker(QWidget):
    """main class that contains everything"""
    
    def __init__(self):
        """initialize things"""
        super().__init__()
        
        self.covid = COVID19Py.COVID19()  #initialize
        self.timer = QTimer() #initialize
        
        self.timer.timeout.connect(self.update) #if timer reaches threshold - call update
        
        self.ui()  #user interface
    def ui(self):
        """User Interface section"""
        self.setWindowTitle("Covid19 International and Local Tracker")
        #self.setWindowFlags(Qt.CustomizeWindowHint) #hide title bar
        self.setStyleSheet("Background-color: black")
        self.setFixedSize(640, 480)  #as per my display (x, y) /rpi resolution
        #main label
        self.banner_label = QLabel(self)
        self.banner_label.setGeometry(50, 5, 560, 50)  #(x_origin, y_origin, till_x, till_y)
        self.banner_label.setText("CORONA Pandemic - COVID19 TRACKER")
        self.banner_label.setFont(QFont('SansSerif', 20))
        self.banner_label.setStyleSheet("""
                           background-color: black; 
                           color: white;
                           border-style: outset; 
                           border-width: 1px
                           """)
        """________________________worlds latest data_______________________________________"""
        
        #world label
        self.w = QLabel(self)
        self.w.setGeometry(200, 55, 400, 40)
        self.w.setText("World at a Glance")
        self.w.setFont(QFont('SansSerif', 18))
        self.w.setStyleSheet("""
                           background-color: black; 
                           color: blue; 
                           border-style: outset; 
                           border-width: 1px
                           """)
        #worldwide confirmed cases
        self.w_cases = QLabel(self)
        self.w_cases.setGeometry(5, 90, 100, 40)
        self.w_cases.setText("Cases:")
        self.w_cases.setFont(QFont('SansSerif', 18))
        self.w_cases.setStyleSheet("""
                           background-color: black; 
                           color: orange; 
                           border-style: outset; 
                           border-width: 1px
                           """)
        
        #cases number
        self.w_cases_num = QLabel(self)
        self.w_cases_num.setGeometry(110, 90, 100, 40)
        self.w_cases_num.setFont(QFont('SansSerif', 18))
        self.w_cases_num.setStyleSheet("""
                           background-color: black; 
                           color: white; 
                           border-style: outset; 
                           border-width: 1px
                           """)
        #worldwide deaths 
        self.w_death = QLabel(self)
        self.w_death.setGeometry(350, 90, 100, 40)
        self.w_death.setText("Deaths:")
        self.w_death.setFont(QFont('SansSerif', 18))
        self.w_death.setStyleSheet("""
                           background-color: black; 
                           color: red; 
                           border-style: outset; 
                           border-width: 1px
                           """)
        #death number
        self.w_death_num = QLabel(self)
        self.w_death_num.setGeometry(460, 90, 100, 40)
        self.w_death_num.setFont(QFont('SansSerif', 18))
        self.w_death_num.setStyleSheet("""
                           background-color: black; 
                           color: white; 
                           border-style: outset; 
                           border-width: 1px
                           """)
        #worldwide cured
        self.w_cured = QLabel(self)
        self.w_cured.setGeometry(5, 140, 100, 40)
        self.w_cured.setText("Cured:")
        self.w_cured.setFont(QFont('SansSerif', 18))
        self.w_cured.setStyleSheet("""
                           background-color: black; 
                           color: cyan; 
                           border-style: outset; 
                           border-width: 1px
                           """)
        #worldwide cured number
        self.w_cured_num = QLabel(self)
        self.w_cured_num.setGeometry(110, 140, 100, 40)
        self.w_cured_num.setFont(QFont('SansSerif', 18))
        self.w_cured_num.setStyleSheet("""
                           background-color: black; 
                           color: white; 
                           border-style: outset; 
                           border-width: 1px
                           """)
        """_______________________Local-By country Code________________________________"""
        
        #local - Country 
        self.c = QLabel(self)
        self.c.setGeometry(170, 200, 400, 40)
        self.c.setText("My Country: Bangladesh")
        self.c.setFont(QFont('SansSerif', 18))
        self.c.setStyleSheet("""
                           background-color: black; 
                           color: white; 
                           border-style: outset; 
                           border-width: 1px
                           """)
        
        #local confirm cases
        self.c_cases = QLabel(self)
        self.c_cases.setGeometry(5, 240, 400, 40)
        self.c_cases.setText("Cases:")
        self.c_cases.setFont(QFont('SansSerif', 18))
        self.c_cases.setStyleSheet("""
                           background-color: black; 
                           color: orange; 
                           border-style: outset; 
                           border-width: 1px
                           """)
        
        #local cases number
        self.c_cases_num = QLabel(self)
        self.c_cases_num.setGeometry(110, 240, 100, 40)
        self.c_cases_num.setFont(QFont('SansSerif', 18))
        self.c_cases_num.setStyleSheet("""
                           background-color: black; 
                           color: white; 
                           border-style: outset; 
                           border-width: 1px
                           """)
        #local deaths
        self.c_death = QLabel(self)
        self.c_death.setGeometry(350, 240, 100, 40)
        self.c_death.setText("Deaths:")
        self.c_death.setFont(QFont('SansSerif', 18))
        self.c_death.setStyleSheet("""
                           background-color: black; 
                           color: red; 
                           border-style: outset; 
                           border-width: 1px
                           """)
        #local deaths number
        self.c_death_num = QLabel(self)
        self.c_death_num.setGeometry(460, 240, 100, 40)
        self.c_death_num.setFont(QFont('SansSerif', 18))
        self.c_death_num.setStyleSheet("""
                           background-color: black; 
                           color: white; 
                           border-style: outset; 
                           border-width: 1px
                           """)
   
        
        #local cured
        self.c_cured = QLabel(self)
        self.c_cured.setGeometry(5, 280, 100, 40)
        self.c_cured.setText("Cured:")
        self.c_cured.setFont(QFont('SansSerif', 18))
        self.c_cured.setStyleSheet("""
                           background-color: black; 
                           color: cyan; 
                           border-style: outset; 
                           border-width: 1px
                           """)
        
        #local cured number
        self.c_cured_num = QLabel(self)
        self.c_cured_num.setGeometry(110, 280, 100, 40)
        self.c_cured_num.setFont(QFont('SansSerif', 18))
        self.c_cured_num.setStyleSheet("""
                           background-color: black; 
                           color: white; 
                           border-style: outset; 
                           border-width: 1px
                           """)
        """_______________________Time, Date, Clock________________________________"""
        #clock
        self.clock = QLabel(self)
        self.clock.setGeometry(115, 340, 400, 70)
        self.clock.setFont(QFont('SansSerif', 60))
        self.clock.setStyleSheet("""
                           background-color: black; 
                           color: white; 
                           border-style: outset; 
                           border-width: 1px
                           """)
        
        #label for weekday
        self.weekday = QLabel(self)
        self.weekday.setGeometry(5, 360, 110, 20)
        self.weekday.setFont(QFont('SansSerif', 13))
        self.weekday.setStyleSheet("""
                           background-color: black; 
                           color: white; 
                           border-style: outset; 
                           border-width: 1px
                           """)
        
        #date label
        self.date = QLabel(self)
        self.date.setGeometry(510, 360, 110, 20)
        #self.clock.setText("22:49:00")
        self.date.setFont(QFont('SansSerif', 13))
        self.date.setStyleSheet("""
                           background-color: black; 
                           color: white; 
                           border-style: outset; 
                           border-width: 1px
                           """)
        
        #check the timer
        if not self.timer.isActive():
            #if timer is stopped (reached threshold)
            #After 1 second (approx.) or 1000ms
            try:
                """try to get data, else run the code anyway"""
                self.latest = self.covid.getLatest() #gte covid19 latest data
                #get latest data by country code 'BD'-Bangladesh, 'IN'-India etc
                self.local = self.covid.getLocationByCountryCode('BD', timelines=False)
                #print(self.local)
                #print(self.latest)
            except:
                """couldn't get data"""
                print("Internet Error!!")
                pass #ignore, run anyway
            self.timer.start(1000) #start the timer
        
        self.show() #show our User Interface
    def update(self):
        """update labels with information"""
        """_________________Extract ad Update Time and Date Information________________"""
        #set up clock and date time (update values)
        #get and update values
        #to know more read python datetime documentation
        self.dt = datetime.datetime.now() #get datetime data
        self.clock.setText(self.dt.strftime('%X'))
        self.weekday.setText(self.dt.strftime('%A'))
        self.date.setText(self.dt.strftime('%x'))
        
        
        """__________________________update covid19 data______________________________"""
        
        #worldwide latest data
        self.w_cases_num.setText(str(self.latest['confirmed']))
        self.w_death_num.setText(str(self.latest['deaths']))
        self.w_cured_num.setText(str(self.latest['recovered']))
        
        #local latest data
        self.c_cured_num.setText(str(self.local[0]['latest']['recovered']))
        self.c_death_num.setText(str(self.local[0]['latest']['deaths']))
        self.c_cases_num.setText(str(self.local[0]['latest']['confirmed']))
        print("updating")
        return
  
def main():
    app = QApplication(sys.argv)  
    win = CoronaTracker()  #instantiate
    sys.exit(app.exec())
   
#run the application 
if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()

After testing the code I put it in desk and dedicated a power source for it. So that it can work while charging. By using the ups this can run even in load-shedding also, this gives ur pi SD card a suitable protection too.

No matter how or who we are, we have to die. Let's not think about yourself, think about the world. We can only live forever through our deeds, let it be that way.