General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsYOU can participate without a Kinsa thermometer in the US Health Weather Map tracking program
I am very impressed with this project and although millions of thermometers have been given away to school kids, they sold out like toilet paper when COVID-19 started spreading (no longer available to purchase unless you happen on to a profiteer on Ebay).
But with any thermometer (digital probably best) you can sign up with basic information and zipcode, download the app and simply enter your data manually.
https://support.kinsahealth.com/hc/en-us/articles/212258123-How-can-I-download-the-Kinsa-app-
It really doesn't take any more time than if you had their Bluetooth-enabled thermometer. One quick step to toggle no or present symptoms, and then another to enter your temp. Easy peasy and it is really providing useful data for now and the future. What invaluable data we could add if many or most DUers would sign up and participate! And, no your individual data is not shared. Only aggregate (combined) data is analyzed.
https://healthweather.us/ Track the map daily and read about the methodology.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)hlthe2b
(102,277 posts)beachbumbob
(9,263 posts)hlthe2b
(102,277 posts)and is showing far more sensitivity than syndromic surveillance for rapid community changes, given its online realtime interphase and the fact it includes an OBJECTIVE input, measured temperature. I think in the future when we are able to overlay widespread lab testing for influenza/related URTI and COVID_19 it will show considerable validity preceding by considerable days the information we get from traditional health care and lab-based surveillance. For those who have worked on public health surveillance (as I have for decades), the promise is encouraging.