ECG smartwatch will measure COVID-19 infection rates

A Cambridge-based manufacturer has invented a hand-to-hand smartwatch to collect crowd-sourced open data of pre and post COVID-19 infection rates

Spotted: In response to the current COVID-19 crisis, ECG smartwatch manufacturer, Vagus, has developed a crowd-sourced data collection campaign, which they are carrying out with the use of Vagus ECG smartwatches. 

The voluntary study consists of participants completing three 90-second “Vagus ECG tests” every day. Participants follow instructions displayed on the watch, such as sitting with your hands on a table and can include a health status note, with measurements such as body temperature.

As we know, infection rates of the disease are increasing and it is clear that people are catching the virus before they start to show any symptoms. The aim of the smartwatch is to collect data from people before they are infected, and then to monitor them whilst they carry the infection. The aim is to collect the data in order to track disease progression, which can, in turn, inform early detection and monitoring methods to researchers. According to the researchers, the cardiac/respiratory changes which occur early in the contraction of the disease can be detected with a specific “Vagus ECG test.”

If the participant contracts the disease during the study, they are encouraged to complete the tests more frequently and report to a medical professional. 

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