Digital healthcare company Empatica announces a pioneering new partnership with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to validate an early warning system for COVID-19 and other respiratory infections using its wearable sensors and proprietary algorithm.

The system, named Aura, is completely noninvasive, utilizing Empatica's medical smartwatches, software, and artificial intelligence capabilities. Aura will enable continuous and real-time insight into the likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 infection before symptoms present, and send a warning to the user and their healthcare provider.