CMU upgrades COVID-19 health screen app

Central Michigan University's COVID-19 health screening mobile app and website are getting a new look, but their vital importance — and functionality — will not change.

The app, available for Apple and Android phones and tablets, supports mandatory daily self-screening by CMU employees and students. Upgrades rolling out this weekend will provide a better user experience and match updated language used by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CMU requires all faculty, staff and students to self-screen each day for symptoms of COVID-19 before coming to CMU's main campus or other satellite location. App users answer two questions about risk factors:

• Have they spent more than 15 minutes within 6 feet of someone within two days of that person's COVID-19 diagnosis or positive test?
• Do they have any symptoms from a list of those associated with COVID-19?

Users who answer no to both questions are cleared for access to campus. Those answering yes to either question are directed to call their physician or CMU medical staff and not to enter any campus facilities until cleared.

A suggestion from biology faculty member Deric Learman also made it into the app upgrade: After each use of the app, a green bar now will appear at the top of the app screen for the rest of the day to show that the daily screening has been completed.

A CMU team uses data from the app to make contact with those who have reported COVID symptoms or exposure, putting them in contact with CMU Health or the university's isolation and quarantine coordinator for next steps.

App responses — along with information from the Central Michigan District Health Department, Residence Life, CMU Athletics and other sources — are part of CMU's "COVID workflow" that helps campus leaders understand and respond to risks or the spread of infection.

Dr. George E. Kikano, CMU vice president for health affairs and dean of the  College of Medicine, emphasized the importance of the required daily screening.

"Slowing the spread of COVID-19 requires information," Kikano said. "This is one of many tools that equip us for the fight."

Any CMU employee or student unable to use the app is required to report self-screening daily by calling 989-774-1044.