QU Symptom Checker App Checks for Symptoms of COVID-19

Hamden, CT – Quinnipiac University has introduced a free mobile application, “QU Symptom Checker,” to make it easy for students, faculty and staff to check for symptoms of COVID-19.

“QU Symptom Checker” is a useful tool that allows the university community to monitor its own health based on a daily logging of potential symptoms commonly associated with the virus. The app will help users make informed decisions on what to do if they are experiencing symptoms and includes contact information, key resources and the latest Quinnipiac updates on COVID-19.

“As part of several measures we have put into place to keep our campus healthy, we have added this symptom-checking app,” said Dr. David Hill, professor of medicine and director of the Global Public Health program at Quinnipiac. “We have worked with the developers, MyOwnMed, to tailor the app to our needs, make it easy to use and provide us with key information on a daily basis to stay ahead of any COVID outbreaks.”

Before going to work or class each day, all students, faculty and staff are required to check their symptoms using the app, giving the university an important early detection system to help identify possible COVID-19 cases.

Users will be asked if they have any of the following 12 symptoms commonly associated with COVID-19: loss of taste, loss of smell, red/watery eyes, shortness of breath, cough, headache, body aches, sore throat, severe fatigue, fever, vomiting/diarrhea or chills.

The symptom checker app evaluates the responses based on CDC and medical guidelines and provides an immediate confirmation on whether the individual is cleared to attend in-person campus activities or if they need to take further actions to evaluate their health.

Reporting one or more symptoms does not necessarily mean an individual needs to be tested or has COVID-19. If symptoms are reported, specific instructions and next steps will be provided through the app. The information from the app will help the health center identify trends and potential outbreaks before they happen.

The app only monitors self-reported symptoms. It does not capture any other information from users. Individuals are asked to update their symptoms if they change during the day and monitor for fever daily.