Sonoma County’s new app checks for symptoms, exposure to coronavirus for employees

As Sonoma County slowly steps out from its protective shelter and scans around the landscape, hundreds if not thousands of people hope to return to work in coming days or weeks.

But Sonoma County Health Officer Dr. Sundari Mase remains alert that the coronavirus could spread, especially in workplaces where people can again gather and businesses that will open to greet the public.

The county Department of Health Services in recent weeks commissioned the development of the “SoCoCOVID-19 Check” tool, a free app that employers and employees can download and use to measure and record their own symptoms and those of their workforce.

It’s not just a Sonoma County concern, say local health officials. “This is a metric for the governor’s reopening plan, to have some sort of way to measure our local cases,” said Rohish Lal, spokesperson for the county Health Department. “Which is why we have an app.”

But the release of the app and its requirement as a condition of employment has caused some concern, and the very presence of the app on a personal cell phone led to questions about security, tracking and other privacy concerns.

Mark Bodenhamer, CEO of the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce, said the app has caused some initial confusion in the business community. “We need to get some perspective from the county on it,” he said. “Generally speaking, we’re supportive of the efforts to supply such tools for business, which have a genuine interest in keeping themselves and their customers healthy.”

Where is it?

The app was released a couple weeks ago, the result of a $160,000 contract with IBM to meet a May 22 health order that employers must start screening employees and reporting aggregate data by June 1. But on that date, last Monday, the health department posted a message on its Facebook page announcing a delay in the reporting deadline, because the employer version of the app still awaits approval from Apple.

Lal said the delay for approval was unexplained. “Apple has been very cryptic – they’ve been reviewing it for a week, and we’ve been in the expedited queue,” Lal said, adding that approval is expected any day.

Once that approval comes, employers have seven days to ramp up their data collection to meet what the county says will be required reporting for all businesses. “It’s across the board,” said Mase. “The app is supposed to help businesses as they reopen.”

As with all elements contained in a health order, the reporting is mandatory, said Lal. “Orders are civilly and criminally enforceable. However, of course the County hopes that employers and employees will find the app helpful since symptom screening is required and the app provides a tool to do that.”

Perhaps cognizant of recent events, Lal added, “As with all Health Officer orders, the County starts with educating violators, an outreach that will gain compliance. Criminal enforcement is a last resort.”

What’s in it?

The app includes a feed of county health orders and news releases about the coronavirus response, access to the full dashboard of area cases, and links to the state’s public health programs.

But the key is the “My Care” section, with three simple checklist screens to determine if an individual has any symptoms, or has come into contact with a known carrier of COVID-19. Appropriate answers produce an all-clear screen, with a date and time stamp, to show employers as an employee comes to work.

Employers have their own portal to this section, and enter a company code (obtained from the county) then enter health checklist results from employees, in case the worker does not have the app or a cell phone.

“I think most if not all businesses have the ability to have a smart phone on site and be able to screen employees,” said Mase. She pointed out that wireless service is not necessary if there’s a data connection available, which is widespread across the county.

County health has also promised alternate ways for employers to report the health of their employees, though that methodology is not yet clear.

“The County is developing alternative options for businesses who choose not to use the app or website, and will be able to share more information when it’s available,” as explained at socoemergency.com.

Using the app

“Of course the County hopes that employers and employees will find the app helpful since symptom screening is required and the app provides a tool to do that,” said Lal. “Keeping symptomatic workers at home is a critical part of preventing the spread of COVID-19 as more businesses resume operations.”

The app is available in Spanish as well as English, with the phone’s default language determining which version of the app is installed. There’s also an online version at socoemergency.org.

“I think the most important message is, this app is supposed to streamline the process and make it a lot easier for businesses,” said Mase. “When I speak with people who are actually using it, they think it’s great.”

If the roll-out of the app came with some confusion, business owners have expressed little to no opposition to the requirement to this point. “We’re following all the guidelines that have been sent to us from the health department,” said Kevin Kress of the Reel & Brand restaurant on Grove Street, which opened for business on Wednesday, June 3. “There’s a lot of forms to fill out a lot and a lot of check boxes. We will do whatever the county requires.”

The county attempted to assuage concerns about privacy by limiting the amount of personal information the app requires. “The app does not ask for your name, address or any other personally identifiable information,” reads the statement on the county website, for example providing only three options for age: 0-17, 18-64, and 65 and older.

“Further, none of the collected data will be shared for commercial use, and all data collected will be automatically deleted after 45 days,” the statement continues.

The requirement to report employees’ health applies to all county businesses, not just the county government but commercial businesses as well, of any size. But there’s little indication the business community is chafing under the required reporting.

“It’s a cool concept, and I appreciate the idea of having a streamlined helpful, tech-based solution that can reduce paperwork and help all of us feel confident in keeping the community healthy,” said Bodenhamer.

“It’s an interesting time for business,” he said philosophically. “I don’t even remember what normal, non-challenging days look like.”

Email Christian at christian.kallen@sonomanews.com.