Experts at the Yale School of Public Health have developed a wearable COVID-19 detector that can be clipped on the clothes to alert the person when there are infectious levels of the virus in the air.
The device may also be used to detect other respiratory viruses that could be useful during a public health crisis. The experts, however, are not yet ready to market the product and are still fine-tuning its technology.
Tentatively called the Fresh Air Clip, the wearable COVID-19 detector could be very helpful in schools, workplaces, restaurants, healthcare settings, or community gatherings. Initial testings for the device showed that the clip could detect COVID-19 and common viruses at low levels.
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"The Fresh Air clip serves to identify exposure events early," Professor Krystal Godri Pollitti said in the press release. "[It alerts] people to get tested or quarantine."
The device is intended to curb the spread of the virus, which can quickly occur because of the lack of an early detection system for exposures. Pollitti and her team said they are trying to develop a practical clip that will be easy to wear and won't cost too much.
To Compliment Antigen Tests
Pollitti's team started working on the wearable COVID-19 detector since the virus spread in March 2020. The idea is to use the clip alongside other testing tools like the rapid antigen test kits.
The expert told Fox News that they believe "more infectious control measures" should be available to convince people to quarantine or get tested if they are aware of the potential risks. As the clip could detect the virus "within the air," there's always a good chance that people will decide to protect themselves, thereby reducing their chances of an infection.
After a year of study and planning, the researchers tested more than 60 prototypes from January to May 2021. They had people wearing the clip at restaurants, community centers, healthcare offices, or even during their daily activities like exercising outdoors or shopping for essentials.
The participants wore the clip for five straight days. The COVID-19 detector has a film inside that may be fine-tuned for easy access and checking as often as possible in real-time. For now, the clip has to be sent to a lab for analysis to determine if there is indeed COVID in the environment.
Free COVID-19 Test Kits
Meanwhile, the Biden administration has launched COVIDtests.gov to distribute free antigen test kits for every American family. According to reports, it takes less than five minutes to place an order on the website. Kits will be distributed through the U.S. Postal Service's First-Class Package Service.
Those who place their orders will receive a confirmation email with their order number and tracking details. Every American household may get a maximum of four free antigen test kits. They won't be able to choose the brand, but the agency said they would be giving out FDA-authorized products.
However, for those without access to the internet, a phone ordering system will soon be in place.
