In partnership with researchers at the University of Washington and the Seattle Flu Study, Apple is launching a study to see whether the Apple Watch can be used to detect respiratory illnesses including coronavirus or flu.
According to a website by the organizers of the study:
“The study will last “up to 6 months,” and participants who are accepted into the program will be given an Apple Watch for testing purposes, which they must wear “during the study, both day and night.”
The study’s aim is to see whether data obtained by the Apple Watch and iPhone can be used to identify early signs of respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19.
You will be given an Apple Watch to wear if you are eligible and want to participate. Your health and activity data will be collected by the watch.
On a weekly and monthly basis, you will be asked to answer basic survey questions about respiratory symptoms and lifestyle in the Apple Research app on your iPhone.
If you become ill while participating in the study, you will be given a free at-home nasal swab to monitor for COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses, as well as asked to take some additional health measurements with your Apple Watch.
The study will last “up to six months,” and participants who are accepted into the program will be given an Apple Watch for testing purposes, which they must wear “during the study, both day and night.” Individuals in the greater Seattle area who are 22 years old or older and own an Apple iPhone 6s or newer will enroll now.”