To prevent the spread of COVID-19 across its facilities, NASA distributes Fitbit devices to 1,000 of its employees, including 150 astronauts.
The devices worn on the wrist can track several key statistics, including body temperature. By recording all the data, the agency hopes to prepare for the outbreaks of COVID in any of its nationwide facilities.
“There is evidence that resting heart rate data and other important health indicators of portable items have the potential to identify flu-like illnesses such as COVID-19 before symptoms appear,” reads a press release from Fitbit. “This is important because people can transmit the virus before they realize they have symptoms or if they have no symptoms at all.”
“Based on the user’s daily login, the solution will guide NASA employees daily to help them decide whether to go to work or stay at home,” the statement said.
For now, NASA considers the project a pilot and will evaluate the impact of the program before expanding it to more of its employees.
Although there is no peer-reviewed evidence that Fitbit devices can detect COVID early, the company is conducting research to investigate the demand.
The news comes after a study done by Mount Sinai found that the Apple Watch was effectively able to predict positive COVID-19 cases up to a week before a PCR-based test returned positive. .