BGSU launches #CampusClear app

#CampusClear designed to help campus community monitor health

As BGSU returns to campus this fall, one of the most powerful tools to slow the spread of COVID-19 may come in the form of a smiley face on your phone.

BGSU has launched #CampusClear, a daily self-screening app that sends a daily reminder to conduct a self-wellness check before coming to campus or leaving a residence hall.

“This is our first line of defense,” said Ben Batey, chief health officer. “We want people to stay home when they have any symptoms associated with COVID-19. If we can slow down the spread of symptomatic individuals potentially exposing others, that’s step number one.”

The #CampusClear app is free for students, faculty, staff and visitors and provides a daily reminder to conduct a guided self-screening assessment before arriving on campus.

If the self-screening indicates no symptoms, users see a smiley face. If there are possible symptoms associated with COVID-19, users are alerted to contact a medical provider.

“Before COVID-19, as a culture, we tried to tough it out,” Batey said. “If we woke up with congestion and a cough, we would often keep going and attend class or work. This is not the semester for that. We have built options for people to participate in class or work remotely and we want to take advantage of that.”

Next steps if you develop symptoms

If a member of the campus community or visitor experiences COVID-19 symptoms, the next step is to contact a health care provider or the Falcon Health Center at 419-372-2271 for further guidance and possible testing.

If a medical provider recommends a COVID-19 test, Batey said the individual being tested should self-isolate while awaiting results. If individuals have questions they can call the University’s COVID-19 Response hotline at 419-372-3000.

If BGSU faculty, staff or students are diagnosed with COVID-19, the individual will isolate and they should notify the University’s COVID-19 Response Team. The COVID-19 Response Team will immediately begin the process for contact tracing and identifying anyone who may need to quarantine because of an exposure.

#CampusClear

While the #CampusClear app provides a daily reminder for users, it does not report individual symptoms or GPS information to BGSU’s COVID-19 Response Team.

Instead, it provides aggregate, or big-picture, data that allows the University to monitor trends.

“In the Falcon Community Commitment, everyone signed an agreement to conduct a daily screening,” said Batey, “We all get busy and this provides a daily reminder that we need to take this seriously so we can have a successful fall semester.”