A new device from can detect COVID-19 in the air, which can help stop the spread of the virus.

Already, the research team is working on a device that could also identify influenza and RSV.

  • @sugar_in_your_teaEnglish
    17•1 year ago

    Influenza would be fantastic! I’m thinking people could test themselves and just WFH if they’re positive. If enough people do that, we could dramatically reduce how many people get the flu. That obviously depends on it being inexpensive.

    Even just having it at hospitals and senior housing facilities could help improve quarantines for people who are at risk.

    • Drusas
      10•1 year ago

      Actual influenza makes people too sick to work. Most people are thinking of a cold or RSV or similar and they say they have the flu, so they underestimate how bad the flu is.

      • @sugar_in_your_tea
        4•1 year ago

        Sure, if you actually have a bad case of the flu, you probably can’t work. But if you’re merely exposed to the flu, you probably can.

        I’m thinking if an office is exposed to the flu, all employees WFH for some days and they gradually come back to the office. If that becomes a cultural thing, we can drastically reduce the spread. I know my office would be interested, and I’m sure there are plenty more.

        • Drusas
          3•1 year ago

          That would be so great. As a person with an illness which makes me highly susceptible to respiratory infections, I basically have to avoid crowded places as much as reasonably possible, such as offices, or I spend some 1/3 to 1/2 of every year sick. If that sort of behavior became the norm, though, I would be so much safer and could go out more.

        • @[email protected]
          0•1 year ago

          I feel you are onto something there ;-) what about everyone who wants it (and can) gets to work from home ?! :-D

          • @sugar_in_your_tea
            1•1 year ago

            That’s pretty close to what we have in my office. We are required to be in the office 2-days/week, unless you have a good reason to stay at home (i.e. errands to run, you’re somewhat sick, etc). As long as you don’t abuse it, you can work from home most days.

            The only reason we require in-office work is to facilitate collaboration, so we try to schedule most of our important meetings on those days and leave a few hours for people to physically work together.