Apple has just presented the latest update to its digital assistant, Siri. This update allows users to ask whether they are infected with the Corona virus or not.
Reporting from The Verge on Tuesday (3/24/2020), users can ask the question "How do I know if I have a coronavirus" or "Do I have a coronavirus?". Later Siri will present some suggestions based on symptoms.
Previously users will be presented with a questionnaire by Apple's assistant. These questions include symptoms related to the Corona virus which include fever, dry cough, or shortness of breath.
If known to be infected with the Corona virus based on its symptoms, Siri will advise users to call 911. While those who are identified as not having the Corona virus or do not show strong results, users will be advised to isolate themselves.
Siri's answer was given based on data from the US Public Health Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Currently, the answer is focused on users in the US.
When this feature is operated in the UK, Siri only provides links to information pages on the UK government's website. There are no questionnaires about symptoms such as when operated in the US.
Siri itself reflects Apple's efforts in combating the Corona virus. Like other companies namely Facebook, Google, and Microsoft which have launched sources of information about the Corona virus.
Facebook has added a coronavirus information center to the top of the News Feed in the United States that transmits information from the World Health Organization and CDC. While Google has also launched an information site and Microsoft, has launched an interactive map, and also works with the CDC to produce a "self-checker" chatbot.
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