Apple Debuts COVID-19 Screening Tool in Partnership with White House and CDC
Apple launches a new website and app to help users screen themselves for COVID-19 symptoms. The tool provides safety tips and directs users to appropriate medical care without collecting personal data.
Apple launches a new COVID-19 screening website and iOS app developed in partnership with the White House, CDC, and FEMA. The site offers basic information about best practices, safety tips, and a screening tool that helps users determine if they need to be tested for the coronavirus. Users access the website worldwide, while the identical app remains limited to the United States.
Based on a user's symptoms, the screening tool recommends contacting a healthcare provider, calling emergency services, or indicates that a test is likely unnecessary. The platform does not directly route users to testing centers, but it provides comprehensive guidance on social distancing, isolation, hand-washing, surface disinfecting, and symptom monitoring.
Apple emphasizes user privacy by stating that it does not collect answers from the screening tool, though it does gather anonymous usage data to improve the site. This release follows a similar effort by Google's Verily, as major technology companies strive to provide the public with easy access to critical health information during the global pandemic.