Apple announces COVID-19 website and app in partnership with CDC and the White House - CNBC

Tim Cook, chief executive officer of Apple, at the 2019 DreamForce conference in San Francisco, California, U.S., on Nov. 19, 2019.

David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Apple has developed a new website and app that will provide a screening tool for COVID-19 symptoms as well as up-to-date information from trusted sources about the coronavirus outbreak. 

The software announced Friday was developed in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control, the White House-led Coronavirus Task Force, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 

The COVID-19 app is available on Apple's App Store, and there is also a website that can be accessed from Windows or Android phones and computers. 

The software developed by Apple's health team is designed to help people protect their health by accessing reliable resources from home. The website comprises a series of questions about risk factors, recent exposure, and symptoms related to coronavirus, and provides a recommendation on what to do next, including whether a test is recommended at this time.

Those who are experiencing severe symptoms are told to call 911. But those with milder symptoms are taken through a process, which might ultimately suggest they monitor symptoms, rest up, and "talk to someone" about testing, whether it's a local health department or doctor's office. The challenge, however, is that testing is still limited across the U.S.

Apple's Covid-19 website.

Apple

Apple is not providing any tests. 

The app and website do not require users to sign in with an Apple ID, and Apple will not collect individual responses or share them with governments, the company said.

Apple updated Siri last week to provide users with a step-by-step questionnaire and CDC information if they ask the voice assistant if they have the coronavirus. It is also closely scrutinizing coronavirus-related apps on its App Store to make sure they are using reliable data and information and are published by recognized institutions. 

Apple is not the only Silicon Valley giant building software and systems to help governments manage the coronavirus outbreak. Verily, a subsidiary of Alphabet, said this week that it is focusing on COVID-19 screening and testing, and it has more than 1000 Google volunteers working on the project. 

Apple's Covid-19 website.

Apple

Apple's Covid-19 website.

Apple

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2020-03-27 16:15:45Z
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