Fitbits Detect Lasting Changes After Covid-19

Last spring, when the nation’s Covid-19 cases were soaring and tests were in short supply, some scientists wondered whether a new approach to disease surveillance might be on Americans’ wrists.

One in five Americans uses a Fitbit, Apple Watch or other wearable fitness tracker. And over the past year, several studies have suggested that the devices — which can continually collect data on heart rates, body temperature, physical activity and more — could help detect early signs of Covid-19 symptoms.

Now, research suggests that these wearables can also help track patients’ recovery from the disease, providing insight into its...