Covid bracelets could track worsening health before symptoms develop

A study shows that by monitoring factors such as skin temperature and heart rate, the bracelets could be combined with artificial intelligence to provide a diagnosis. The AVA bracelet, originally designed as a fertility tracker, is already commercially available

Health trackers worn on the wrist could detect Covid before symptoms develop.

A study shows that by monitoring factors such as skin temperature and heart rate, the bracelets could be combined with artificial intelligence to provide a diagnosis. The AVA bracelet, originally designed as a fertility tracker, is already commercially available.

For the study, the devices were synchronized with a smartphone app.

Of the 127 people who had contracted Covid, the tracker and computer algorithm identified 68% of cases two days before symptoms appeared. Study author Dr. Lorenz Risch said the technology could “potentially [reduce] virus transmission”.

The Basel Cardiovascular Research Institute in Switzerland contributed to the probe and a larger study has begun. In England, the number of people hospitalized with Covid stood at 5,726 as of June 20, a 24% increase in a week, official figures show.

In England and Wales, 284 deaths were recorded with Covid in the week to June 10, a 53% increase.

A caretaker has successfully claimed long Covid is a disability in what could prove a landmark court ruling.

Terence Burke is believed to be the first person in Britain to have the condition recognized as a disability after being allowed to be a disability discrimination case against his previous employer.

Mr Burke fell ill with coronavirus in November 2020 and, despite experiencing “very mild” and “flu-like” symptoms during the isolation period, he soon developed a severe headache and fatigue and only returned to work at Turning Point Scotland after being made redundant nine months later.

In its ruling – the first public case of its kind – the panel concluded that the coronavirus had given him “significant and long-term” side effects.

The tribunal heard Mr Burke was put on sick leave while struggling to do simple household chores and even missed a family funeral because of his extreme fatigue.

He was then fired after becoming so exhausted he was unable to show up for work for around nine months, the panel was told.

Having completed a preliminary hearing to determine whether he was legally disabled, Mr Burke’s claim against charity Turning Point Scotland is now open to a full hearing.

The court heard that he had worked as a janitor for the charity since April 2001.