| Scientists often compare predicting the course of Covid-19 to predicting the weather: It's an inaccurate science at best. But weather prediction is also aided by data-collection devices like satellites that help fine-tune those predictions. Scientists are now wondering whether wearables like the Apple Watch or Fitbit fitness tracker might do the same for infectious disease. After all, such devices track not only your steps but many biometric data points including heart rate. In cases of Covid-19, changes to heart rate often appear long before more noticeable symptoms, such as a fever, and also show up in cases where the infected individual exhibits no symptoms at all. This means that wearable devices could act as critical early warning systems, predicting and helping prepare for the next wave of a disease that has infected more than 8 million people globally.  Still life of the Oura ring Photographer: Amy Lombard for Bloomberg Businessweek Several studies to test just how well this early warning system might work are underway around the world. The Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute says its platform can predict coronavirus-related symptoms as far in advance as three days before they show up, with 90% accuracy. And Michael Snyder, a Stanford geneticist who's leading the university's study, shared early results with Bloomberg Businessweek that showed heart rate anomalies showed up in one case nine days before any detectable symptoms. Heart rate, he said, is stacking up to be a very good indicator of the virus: "You can't miss that signal," he says. The NBA, for one, is on board. When the sport resumes in July at Disney World, the Oura ring, which can measure body temperature, respiratory function and heart rate, will be among the tools the league plans to use to keep players safe. All staff and players will be able to opt in to such health monitoring, as 22 teams begin play in a "bubble" at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex.--Kristen V. Brown | 
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