A project backed by the Bill & Melinda Foundation will launch in the following weeks the first coronavirus home testing kits, helping authorities contain the spread of COVID-19.
The project will start in the Seattle area and will let people send nose swabs to a lab for analysis, with results to come back in one to two days.
The results will be shared with health officials, who will notify those that tested positive for a COVID-19 infection.
Without leaving their home, those who tested positive will fill out online forms detailing their previous activity, interactions and itineraries, so the health authorities can better track the virus’ spread.
Scott Dowell, the leader of the coronavirus response at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said that the project is going ahead full-steam and will launch in the following weeks.
“Although there’s a lot to be worked out, this has enormous potential to turn the tide of the epidemic,” he said, referring to the need to upgrade software to handle a tide of requests and finalize the projects.
As of Saturday, Seattle & King County had 71 confirmed Coronavirus cases and 15 deaths, though experts say the real number of infection might be closer to 600.
On March 4, The Gates Foundation announced a $5 million pledge to help the Greater Seattle area authorities contain the COVID-19 outbreak.
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