Apple Launches COVID-19 Website and App

US smartphone maker Apple Inc. is currently putting great effort on supporting plans to counter the coronavirus crisis.

The tech giant recently teamed up with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the White House Coronavirus Task Force, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to launch a new COVID-19 website as well as a mobile app to promote further awareness about the virus.

The app, which is currently available on the App Store, and the website offers information concerning the virus’ symptoms, treatment, and preventive remedies. 

Both platforms also offer relevant CDC recommendations on next steps, including guidance on social distancing, and self-isolation, as well as advice on when to consult a medical expert.

Moreover, individuals can access the company’s screening tool without signing in or providing their Apple ID. User data privacy measures have been integrated into the tool to ensure confidentiality and security. 

The iPhone maker looks to lower the risk of the virus’ spread in the US with the help of its COVID-19 website and mobile app.  

The news came a week after chief executive Tim Cook announced that they have provided 10 million protective face masks to coronavirus relief efforts in the US. Apple also recently updated answers about the disease to its digital assistant Siri.

Apple Joins Other Tech Giants in the Fight against COVID-19

Apple becomes the latest tech group that has taken strong steps to support the government and the people in coping with the pandemic.

As the pandemic shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon, new innovation in the tech industry, such as AI-operated self-assessment tests, diagnostic kits, and automation of test results are being developed to step up the battle against the COVID-19. 

Other tech behemoths, including Microsoft Corp., International Business Machines Corp. (IBM), and Alphabet Inc., backed by AI, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR), machine learning (ML), and data analytics, are also making every effort to revolutionize the healthcare system.

Alphabet’s Google LLC has just launched a website in the US, which contains information on COVID-19 symptoms, treatment, and preventive remedies from the World Health Organization (WHO).

In addition to Google’s new website, Alphabet’s research organization Verily Life Science has introduced a screening website under Project Baseline.  

Microsoft has released a COVID-19 tracker tool that presents the latest infection data of each affected country. The tool allows users to view articles and additional information about the disease. 

IBM, meanwhile, has partnered with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the US Department of Energy (DOE) to launch the COVID-19 High Performance Computing (HPC) Consortium. 

The consortium aims to deliver computing capabilities from companies like IBM to scientists and researchers to help them run large numbers in epidemiology, bioinformatics, and molecular modeling. These calculations are a fundamental part in finding a compound to fight the virus.

Consortium partners include Amazon.com Inc.’s Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is also taking part in the plan.