Apple updates COVID-19 screening app with updated symptoms, mask tips

Apple on Friday updated its COVID-19 screening app with new information about coronavirus symptoms and tips related to face masks.

The Cupertino tech giant launched its COVID-19 tool in late March, giving iPhone users another way to stay informed during the coronavirus pandemic. In April, Apple added links to state-level guidance and tips for personal self-care.

On May 1, Apple issued a new version of the app with updated symptom information and recommendations from the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance.

According to the CDC, new symptoms that could be signs of COVID-19 include chills, shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and loss of smell or taste.

The app has also been updated with tips related to cloth masks, including creating a mask, when and how to properly wear a mask, and how to sanitize it.

Alongside the app update, Apple also added the new information and tips to its COVID-19 webpage.

The COVID-19 app, which was developed in collaboration the CDC, FEMA and Coronavirus Task Force, is available as a free download on the App Store.

8 Comments

apple ][ 9225 comments · 13 Years

About 4 years ago

When I am outside walking around, I see quite a few people who are wearing masks, but the masks are not covering their noses! The mask is below their nostrils!

I can only imagine that these are the same kind of people that use their phones in portrait mode when shooting video. You can't fix stupid I guess.

lkrupp 10521 comments · 19 Years

apple ][ said:

When I am outside walking around, I see quite a few people who are wearing masks, but the masks are not covering their noses! The mask is below their nostrils!

I can only imagine that these are the same kind of people that use their phones in portrait mode when shooting video. You can't fix stupid I guess.

Yes, you can’t fix stupid and it’s why we have the tin badge dictators we have controlling our lives at the moment. What really irks me is how these assholes will be patting themselves on their backs claiming they saved the world from Covid-19 when things settle down.

fastasleep 6450 comments · 14 Years

lkrupp said:

apple ][ said:

When I am outside walking around, I see quite a few people who are wearing masks, but the masks are not covering their noses! The mask is below their nostrils!

I can only imagine that these are the same kind of people that use their phones in portrait mode when shooting video. You can't fix stupid I guess.

Yes, you can’t fix stupid and it’s why we have the tin badge dictators we have controlling our lives at the moment. What really irks me is how these assholes will be patting themselves on their backs claiming they saved the world from Covid-19 when things settle down.

Oh, boo hoo. I suppose you'd be happier if we all went about things as if nothing was happening, overloaded our hospitals, and ended up with millions more dead instead? "These assholes" are literally saving lives by slowing the spread of this thing to a level we can realistically deal with. You big babies are not helping.

redraider11 186 comments · 9 Years

fastasleep said:

lkrupp said:

apple ][ said:

When I am outside walking around, I see quite a few people who are wearing masks, but the masks are not covering their noses! The mask is below their nostrils!

I can only imagine that these are the same kind of people that use their phones in portrait mode when shooting video. You can't fix stupid I guess.

Yes, you can’t fix stupid and it’s why we have the tin badge dictators we have controlling our lives at the moment. What really irks me is how these assholes will be patting themselves on their backs claiming they saved the world from Covid-19 when things settle down.

Oh, boo hoo. I suppose you'd be happier if we all went about things as if nothing was happening, overloaded our hospitals, and ended up with millions more dead instead? "These assholes" are literally saving lives by slowing the spread of this thing to a level we can realistically deal with. You big babies are not helping.

A pair of underwear and thick pair of denim jeans can’t stop a fart from stinking up the room, but these homemade masks are supposed to stop a virus from spreading? Riiigghhtt.

Worldspinning 24 comments · 5 Years

redraider11 said:

fastasleep said:

lkrupp said:

apple ][ said:

When I am outside walking around, I see quite a few people who are wearing masks, but the masks are not covering their noses! The mask is below their nostrils!

I can only imagine that these are the same kind of people that use their phones in portrait mode when shooting video. You can't fix stupid I guess.

Yes, you can’t fix stupid and it’s why we have the tin badge dictators we have controlling our lives at the moment. What really irks me is how these assholes will be patting themselves on their backs claiming they saved the world from Covid-19 when things settle down.

Oh, boo hoo. I suppose you'd be happier if we all went about things as if nothing was happening, overloaded our hospitals, and ended up with millions more dead instead? "These assholes" are literally saving lives by slowing the spread of this thing to a level we can realistically deal with. You big babies are not helping.

A pair of underwear and thick pair of denim jeans can’t stop a fart from stinking up the room, but these homemade masks are supposed to stop a virus from spreading? Riiigghhtt.

Well, if you crapped yourself with no underwear or jeans on it'd get everywhere. Just like if you cough or sneeze without a mask it will spread more easily. The idea is to protect others from you if you have it and don't know it. So yeah, of course homemade masks are not 100% effective but they're better than nothing.