Clorox Tests Device To Track Illness in Schools

Clorox developed an experimental device to help schools detect an uptick in illness indicators, including fevers, coughs and sneezes. The new device will be donated to select schools around the country and will launch with an initial beta test this fall to help educators and students return to classrooms more safely and confidently.
 

 
“As a leader in public health, Clorox is continuously looking for opportunities to innovate and provide unique solutions to help protect communities and promote health,” said Magnus Jonsson, vice president of cleaning at The Clorox Company. “This school year is unlike any we have faced before, which is why we're proud to expand upon our solutions for prevention and provide teachers and school administrators with a way to identify early illness symptoms.”  
 
The new device will alert schools when a classroom has surpassed a predetermined symptom threshold developed by Dr. Saskia Popescu, epidemiologist research partner and infection preventionist. The end result is an ability to harness these illness indicators to help schools make informed decisions about prevention and keep classrooms safe, said Clorox.
 
Using specialized thermal sensors, the device identifies potential spikes in body temperature.  The proprietary software also recognizes upticks in coughs and sneezes.  When the device detects an increase in symptoms that surpass a predetermined threshold, educators receive real-time notifications.  Schools can then evaluate the classroom's risk level and take actions to help prevent the spread of illness-causing germs following their own internal healthcare protocols.
 
All inputs from the device are anonymized and never recorded or saved, ensuring the only thing that's identifiable are the symptoms, said Clorox.
 
According to Clorox, more than half of parents (51%) believe that difficulty detecting the early spread of illness is one of the biggest barriers to safely reopening schools, and 74% of parents would support the use of a device in their child's classroom that analyzes anonymous cough, sneeze and temperature rates, and sends real-time alerts. 

Schools that are interested in participating can get more details here.