App users help generate COVID-19 symptom map

Users of a health and wellness app created by a UK technology company have contributed to a live, publicly-available heat map of people with COVID-19 symptoms, providing a national picture of the outbreak.

The initial data, based on 6,573 responses from Evergreen Life app users, shows that 8.9% (546) of respondents report having the symptoms consistent with COVID-19, with the overwhelming majority acting on government advice to self-isolate to slow down the spread of the virus. 

Users of the app are being asked to report if they are self-isolating, have a dry cough or a temperature. The anonymised data is being used to create a national picture of those reporting symptoms. People will also be asked to report when they recover to enable further data analysis as the outbreak progresses. App users are also sent personalised information on national guidance, to support them, and optimise their wellbeing. The platform will also be offered to give the special advice from the NHS for users within the 1.5 million people with the greatest risk of complications.

Viewed over time, the data should reveal both the extent of the symptoms, but also how they may be moving around the UK, providing a detailed picture of this otherwise invisible enemy.

It is hoped the data will support government strategy by encouraging users to self-isolate, as well as providing a better understanding of human behaviour, making it a potentially vital source of additional information for the response effort. It will be made available to all users within the app and others via the Evergreen Life website.

Researchers at the University of Liverpool will analyse the Evergreen Life app data as part of the Liverpool Malawi COVID19 taskforce (#Liverpool_Malawi_COVID19) in concert with national public health measures.

Stephen Critchlow, founder of Evergreen Life said: “We believe that providing a clear picture will help people to make the best possible decisions – like understanding the importance of self-isolation and social distancing, and how to do it.

“Evergreen Life has been working tirelessly with the NHS as the virus has spread to develop services to help our app users, and the NHS, prepare and respond to the outbreak."

As well as providing information to create the heat map, users can access their NHS records, share them with other healthcare service providers, book GP appointments in person or by video, order prescriptions and receive well-being advice to stay well during self-isolation.