Apple Releases “COVID-19 Screening Tool”
April 1, 2020 – Apple has released a “COVID-19 Screening Tool” that allows users to screen themselves or loved ones for coronavirus symptoms, and to receive recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on what to do next. The tool was developed in partnership with the CDC, the White House’s coronavirus task force, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The tool is available in both website and app form.
Apple cautioned that the screening tool is “designed to be a resource for individuals and does not replace instructions from healthcare providers or guidance from state and local health authorities.” When users visit the site or app, they see an initial warning screen instructing anyone with constant chest pain or pressure, extreme difficulty breathing, severe and constant dizziness or lightheadedness, slurred speech, or difficulty waking up to immediately call 911. Users who are not experiencing any of those symptoms then proceed to a questionnaire that asks questions regarding symptoms, travel, pre-existing conditions, and contact with other people. After user results are submitted, the tool provides recommendations with regard to self-isolation, how to monitor symptoms at home, whether to get tested, and when to seek advice from a medical professional.
The COVID-19 Screening Tool can be found at: https://www.apple.com/covid19/