An online symptom checker has been launched to help the NHS coordinate its response and build up additional data on the COVID-19 pandemic.
NHS England, NHSX and NHS Digital collaborated to develop the Coronavirus Status Checker to ask people with potential symptoms to complete the online questionnaire.
The short survey is open to anyone, but the NHS is keen for people who think they may be displaying potential coronavirus symptoms to participate.
The tool is specifically for the NHS to gain information to help plan its response and better understand those that might be self-isolating.
Matt Hancock, Health and Social Care Secretary “Technology and data is playing a vital role in battling coronavirus and supporting our heroic NHS frontline workers to save lives, protect the vulnerable, and relive pressure on the NHS.”
“We must learn as much as possible about this virus, and we are asking the whole nation to join this effort.”
“If anyone has experienced symptoms of COVID-19 I would urge you to use our new status checker app to help us to collect essential information on the virus and allow us to better allocate NHS resources where they are needed most.”
The tool asks people why they are staying at home, to choose from a series of options to describe how they are feeling, whether they have any other health problems and how many people are living in their home.
The information gained will be used to support NHS datasets to inform decision makers.
Prof Keith Willett, Strategic Incident Director NHS England, said “We know large volumes of people are visiting NHS 111 online each day, reporting potential coronavirus symptoms and being advised to self-isolate, and it will be hugely valuable for the NHS if we can learn more about these people and their experiences.”
The survey can be accessed on the NHS website at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus-status-checker
