Germany’s public health authority launched a smartwatch app on Tuesday in partnership with healthtech startup Thryve to help monitor the spread of COVID-19.

The Corona-Datenspende https://corona-datenspende.de (Corona Data Donation) app gathers signs from volunteers wearing smartwatches or fitness trackers - including pulse, temperature and sleep - to analyse whether they are symptomatic of the flu-like illness.

Results will be represented in an interactive online map that would make it possible for the health authorities and the general public to assess the prevalence of infections down to postcode level.

The Corona Data Donation app, available for download in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, is voluntary and data would be processed anonymously. To register, users should enter their postcode, age, sex, height and weight.