Air Canada to pilot COVID-19 contact tracing technology in the workplace

Air Canada announced it plans to explore the application of COVID-19 contact tracing technology in its workplace using the Bluetooth enabled TraceSCAN app and wearable technology developed by Canadian-based Facedrive Inc.

“Air Canada has embraced a science-based approach to managing COVID-19 and as part of this has committed to evaluate the use of new technologies like TraceSCAN’s wearables,” said Samuel Elfassy, vice-president, Safety at Air Canada, in a prepared statement. “We are enthusiastic about exploring the use of TraceSCAN because this Canadian technology has the potential to provide another layer of safety for our employees, so they can focus on taking care of our customers.”

The technology behind TraceSCAN was developed in partnership with the University of Waterloo.

“TraceSCAN provides a risk-based assessment of an individual’s exposure within dynamic and dense work environments,” said William Melek, University of Waterloo mechanical and mechatronics engineering professor. “The technology enables the creation and management of safer work environments needed during this critical phase of the pandemic.”

TraceSCAN Wearables combines AI-enabled mobile application along with wearables devices built on the nRF52 Bluetooth chipset. Facedrive Health developed industry-specific TraceSCAN wearable technology to slow the spread of COVID-19 at the workplace through wristbands, wearable tags worn around the neck or pods that can be kept in the pocket.