LifeQ Releases New Version of COVID Detection App for the General Public

LifeQ is partnering with 1Life to bring its COVID-19 screening application to the general public. The app was designed as an early warning system, and analyzes the biometric data gathered from a wearable device to determine whether or not the person wearing that device has been infected with COVID-19.

In the past, LifeQ has only offered its COVID-19 app to its corporate customers, who could use it to monitor the health of their employees. The app analyzes factors like heart rate and respiration to watch for signs of a possible COVID-19 infection, even before the individual starts exhibiting physical symptoms. In doing so, it allows people to take a more proactive approach to disease prevention, since those that are otherwise asymptomatic can stay home to make sure that they do not spread the disease to the rest of the staff.

“One of the biggest problems with COVID-19 is the period in which the individual has the disease and doesn’t know it, making transmission to loved ones, work colleagues or the general public more likely,” said LifeQ CEO Laurence Olivier. “While the screening app is not an official diagnostic tool, and all medical and testing protocols must be followed according to local government guidelines, LifeQ’s COVID application gives people the information they need to slow the rate of infection and avoid illness.”

The partnership with 1Life will make that utility available on a wider scale. 1Life is a South African insurance provider, and plans to use the app to detect COVID-19 in policy holders.

The LifeQ app will ask the user to report any symptoms if it does see signs of COVID-19, and that feedback will be accounted for in the final status update. Everything is going well when the app is green, while those with a yellow status should be cautious and watch new symptoms in the next few days. Those with a red status, meanwhile, have reported other symptoms, or submitted a positive COVID-19 test result that confirms the infection.

LifeQ is not the only company trying to use wearable tech to detect COVID-19. The FDA recently approved Tiger Tech’s COVID Plus Monitor for emergency use, while the NBA used the Oura Ring to help complete its 2020 season. Royal Philips and BioIntelliSense also received a $2.8 million Department of Defense contract to develop a wearable device that can spot COVID-19 in pre-symptomatic individuals.

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June 7, 2021 – by Eric Weiss