Touch-me-Not Temperature-taking
For many infectious respiratory illnesses such as SARS and H1N1, fever is one of the most obvious indicators of infection. While temperature screening is no longer used to detect a potential COVID-19 infection, it was natural to assume the same would apply for COVID-19, especially in the early days of 2020.
Several GovTech teams set to work on various temperature-taking innovations, rapidly developing and implementing them in record time. One was a self-service non-contact infrared thermometer that was sent to community locations and people-facing government agencies as early as March 2020.
One was VigilantGantry, an AI-driven automated temperature screening gantry that additionally provides a physical barrier. The modular system is easily integrated with off-the-shelf electronics, existing thermal systems, mobile optical cameras and facial recognition. The code is also open-source to allow users to adapt it to their needs.
Another was SPOTON – a mobile, low-cost and scalable thermal scanner was also developed for areas with high volumes. SPOTON is a software solution that can be mounted on a 3D-printed case and easily paired with commercial off-the-shelf thermal sensors and webcams.
Taking Swabs to the Next Level
Testing has been and will continue to be an essential tool in COVID-19 management. Researchers, clinicians and more have made an important impact in this area with several unique test kits that do more than the average swab.
- The Fortitude Kit: A multi-virus test kit developed by A*STAR and Tan Tock Seng Hospital detects both COVID-19 and the seasonal flu, allowing for a more precise diagnosis of respiratory illness. It has been in use in Singapore since February 2020 and is also used globally in over 45 countries.
- The Resolute Kit: Developed by A*STAR’s Diagnostics Development Hub and DSO National Laboratories, this Direct-Polymerase Chain Reaction diagnostic test kit for COVID-19 cuts testing time by half from four to two hours. It is also more cost-effective, uses fewer raw materials and does not require special equipment or skills.
- SwabBot: SingHealth clinicians developed a robot that can conduct self-administrated swab tests, saving manpower and lowering the risk of exposure.
Smarter Than the Average Mask
A “smart mask” designed by researchers from A*STAR and the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) does more than provide a safety barrier against respiratory droplets. The mask can monitor vital signs associated with coronaviruses such as blood oxygen saturation, blood pressure, heart rate and skin temperature.
Dubbed “Lab-on-Mask”, the mask has sensors embedded in a special skin-like material. These sensors collect information from the wearer and send the data to a system in real time. This potentially reduces the number of checks that healthcare workers need to do – while enabling early detection and monitoring of serious illnesses.
At public hospitals, speech therapists are using transparent medical masks. Made of medical grade material, these masks have a 3D design and an anti-fog clear window that keep a therapist’s lip movements visible to patients with speech, language, communication and swallowing difficulties. A*STAR developed these masks with Sengkang General Hospital and local mask maker Forever Family, building on an earlier design for the Deaf and hard of hearing.