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Company set to launch device that it says will detect COVID-19, variants
David Collins
Reporter
Company set to launch device that it says will detect COVID-19, variants
WILL BE A GAME CHANGER. REPORTER: IT WORKS LIKE A SNOW -- A SMOKE ALARM. IT MONITORS INDOOR AIR AND IMMEDIATELY ALTSER WHEN CORONAVIRUS WILL BE DETECTIVE. IF YOU COULD ACTUALLY SEE COVID WOULD THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE? THE MAKERS OF TH DISEVICE SAY IT’S THE NEXT BEST THING. THE VIRA WARN ANALYZES INDOOR AIR FOR COVID AND ITS VARIANTS. IF PRESENT, IT IMMEDIATELY ALERTSEO PPLE WITH AN ALARM AND RED LIGHT ON THE EQUIPMENT. IT CAN BE PROGRAMMED TO SEND A TEXT OR EMAIL ALERT. >> IT IS JUST LIKE TAKING A TEST. YOU WANT TO KNOW IF THAT ROOM IS SAFE OR NOT. YOU DON’T WANT TO GO IN THAT ROOM IF IT IS NOT SAFE. YOU WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT RETURNING TO WORK YOU WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT RETURNING TO SCHOOL. REPORT:ER VIRA WARN COMES AVAILABLE AT A TIME WHEN FEWER THAN HALF OF AMERICANS ARE FLYUL VACCINATED AGAINST COVID AND AS THE DELTA VARIANT BECOMES WIDESPREAD. THE MACHINE USES BIOSENSING TECHNOLO.GY AIR IS SUCKED INTO THE DEVICE. IF THE VIRUS IS PRESENT THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL CHEMICAL REACTN. >> IT RECOGNIZES ANY OF THE SARS VIRUSES BUT IT ALSO RECOGNIZES INFLUENZA. IT DOESN’T HAVE THE POWER TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE VIRUSES BUT IT KNOWS SOMETHING BAD IS IN THE ROOM. REPORT:ER VIRA WARN IS BEING MARKETED AS A PLUG -IN DEVICE THAT DELIVERS PEACE OF MIND WHEN RETURNING TO THE OFFICE. IT’S INTENDED TO HELP CREATE A SAFER ENVIRONMENT WHEN STUDENTS GO BACK TO THE CLASSROOM. >> MOST OF THE CHILDREN N'C’T BE VACCINAT YEDET. THEY ARE GOING HOME TO PARENTS WHO MAY OR MAY NOT BE VACCINATED. SO THE OPPORTUTYNI FOR A VIRAL SPREAD IS HUGE. REPORTER: VIRA WARN WORKS BEST WHEN PLACED CLOSER TO FLOOR LEVEL BECAUSE THAT’S WHERE VIRUS PARTICLES LLFA. ACCORDING TO COMPANY OFFICIALS THE ACCURACY RATE IS 70 TO 80%. THERE IS ALSO SOFTWARE IN THE DEVICE SCREENING OUT FALSE POSITIVE AND FALSE NEGATIVE READINGS. >> AS PEOPLE ARE RETURNING WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW IS REALLY HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN VACCINATED REALLY, AND HOW MANY PEOPLE , HAVEN’T. REPORTER: THERE ARE CURRENTLY TWO MODELS. THIS LIGHT WEIGHT ONE WILL GO FOR $459. A LARGER MODEL FOR $799 AND BOTH WILL BE AVAILABLE NEXT MONTH. THERE’S ALSO A HOUSEHOLD MODEL WHICH WILL SELL FOR $$200. THIS ONE WILL BE AVAILABLE TOWARD T ENDHE OF THE YE.
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Company set to launch device that it says will detect COVID-19, variants
David Collins
Reporter
A Baltimore-based company is launching a device in September that detects the presence of COVID-19 and its variants in the air. Opteev calls the COVID-19 detector ViraWarn. It is currently being marketed for classrooms and businesses, but a household version will be available by the end of the year.The company believes the device will be a game-changer.ViraWarn works like a smoke alarm. It monitors indoor air and immediately puts out an alert when particles of coronavirus or its variants are detected.If present, the detector immediately alerts people with an alarm and red light on the equipment. It can be programmed to send a text or email alert."It's just like taking a test. You want to know if that room is safe or not. You don't want to go in that room if it is not safe. You want people to feel good about returning to work, you want people to feel good about returning to school," said Conrad Bessemer, chairman and co-founder of Opteev. The machine uses biosensing technology. Air is sucked into the device. If the virus is present, there is an electrical chemical reaction."It recognizes any of the SARS viruses, but it also recognizes influenza. It doesn't have the power to distinguish between the viruses, but it knows something bad is in the room," Bessemer said. ViraWarn is being marketed as a plug-in device that delivers peace of mind when returning to the office. It's intended to help create a safer environment when students go back to the classroom."Most of the children can't be vaccinated yet. They are going home to parents who may or may not be vaccinated, so the opportunity for a viral spread is huge," Bessemer said.ViraWarn works best when placed closer to floor level because that's where virus particles fall. According to company officials, the accuracy rate is 70% to 80%. There is also software in the device screening out false positive and false negative readings."As people are returning what you don't know is really how many people have been vaccinated really, and how many people haven't," Bessemer said.There are currently two models. The lightweight model will go for $459, while a larger model for $799 and both will be available in September. The household model will sell for $200.

A Baltimore-based company is launching a device in September that detects the presence of COVID-19 and its variants in the air.

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Opteev calls the COVID-19 detector ViraWarn. It is currently being marketed for classrooms and businesses, but a household version will be available by the end of the year.

The company believes the device will be a game-changer.

ViraWarn works like a smoke alarm. It monitors indoor air and immediately puts out an alert when particles of coronavirus or its variants are detected.

If present, the detector immediately alerts people with an alarm and red light on the equipment. It can be programmed to send a text or email alert.

"It's just like taking a test. You want to know if that room is safe or not. You don't want to go in that room if it is not safe. You want people to feel good about returning to work, you want people to feel good about returning to school," said Conrad Bessemer, chairman and co-founder of Opteev.

The machine uses biosensing technology. Air is sucked into the device. If the virus is present, there is an electrical chemical reaction.

"It recognizes any of the SARS viruses, but it also recognizes influenza. It doesn't have the power to distinguish between the viruses, but it knows something bad is in the room," Bessemer said.

ViraWarn is being marketed as a plug-in device that delivers peace of mind when returning to the office. It's intended to help create a safer environment when students go back to the classroom.

"Most of the children can't be vaccinated yet. They are going home to parents who may or may not be vaccinated, so the opportunity for a viral spread is huge," Bessemer said.

ViraWarn works best when placed closer to floor level because that's where virus particles fall. According to company officials, the accuracy rate is 70% to 80%. There is also software in the device screening out false positive and false negative readings.

"As people are returning what you don't know is really how many people have been vaccinated really, and how many people haven't," Bessemer said.

There are currently two models. The lightweight model will go for $459, while a larger model for $799 and both will be available in September. The household model will sell for $200.