A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Digital, Self-testing Strategy for COVID-19 Infection in South Africa.

The investigators hypothesize that a rapid digital self-testing strategy that evaluates the risk of severe COVID-19 infection and guides participants on the methods of self-test interpretation and ensuing action plans will be more impactful in detecting COVID-19 infection and will facilitate more participants to take an appropriate course of action compared to the conventional strategy. Action plans initiated will be either: a) clinical care, b) prevention (home quarantine, isolation), or c) social distancing. Taken together, these actions will impact health outcomes during the current and ensuing SARS-CoV-2 surges. Using a superiority randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, the investigators will randomize participants to either the App-based self-testing arm or the conventional testing arm (screening and testing performed by a health care worker (HCW) at the COVID-19 testing site). A confirmatory RT-PCR test will be performed in both arms. The standard of care will be offered in the conventional arm. The interventional strategy will be offered in kiosks/private spaces within COVID-19 testing sites or student health clinics. The COVIDSmart CARE! digital App-based program will be downloaded onto the test kiosk based tablets or participants' smartphones. This strategy will yield self-test results and guided action plans in a rapid turnaround time.