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Clorox’s Beta device will alert educators in real-time of symptom spikes, enabling them to see beyond the surface of their class
Each year, schools face the challenge of preventing one cough or sneeze from turning into a cold or flu outbreak. For schools that have decided to resume in-person learning, the added pressure of SARS-Cov-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, means taking every possible safety precaution is of the utmost importance. Recognising the gap in tools available to educators that provide real-time information, Clorox developed an experimental device to help detect an uptick in illness indicators, including fevers, coughs and sneezes.
A new survey from the company found that 79 percent of parents believe that implementing technological solutions in schools can help combat the spread of illness. 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 from Clorox 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.
Using specialised thermal sensors, the device identifies potential spikes in body temperature. The proprietary software also recognises upticks in coughs and sneezes. When the device detects an increase in symptoms that surpass a predetermined threshold, educators will 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 anonymised and never recorded or saved, ensuring the only thing that’s identifiable are the symptoms.
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