As we begin the month of April today, we all know that this is going to be a bizarre month. Everyone is subject to a stay-at-home directive for all of this month, and surely this is just the beginning. And the COVID-19 statistics are rising at an alarming rate, especially in New York, but also in other places such as New Orleans, where I live. It can all get quite overwhelming.
Apple recently released an app to give you some practical advice. The app has a nice and simple interface to just give you the facts — what you should know and what you should be doing based upon your personal situation, including when it makes sense to speak to a medical professional. It was developed in coordination with the CDC, FEMA, and the White House. All of the information in the app can be found elsewhere, but the free app is so nicely done that I recommend that you download it.
From the main screen, there is a button at the top to start screening, and below that you can tap to get information on ways to protect yourself.
When you start the screening, the app asks you a series of questions about your personal situation, risk factors, recent exposures, and symptoms. You can answer for yourself or provide answers for someone else. Apple emphasizes that all of the information you provide is kept private, stating: “The tools do not require a sign-in or association with a user’s Apple ID, and users’ individual responses will not be sent to Apple or any government organization.”
At the end, the app makes a recommendation on what you should do, including whether you should be tested.
As an alternative to using the app, Apple also created a web version that you can access here.
This is a straightforward app with a clean interface and clear information presented in a very easy to use format. Kudos to Apple for doing a nice job with this one.
Click here to get COVID-19 Screening Tool (free): 