Apple on Thursday issued an update to its COVID-19 screening app with new features like refreshed questions regarding symptom severity and test results.
Today’s update brings new questions for symptom severity and COVID-19 test results, offering more granularity in tracking and thus more accurate advice like when to visit a healthcare professional. The update also includes unspecified bug fixes and performance improvements.
Apple’s screening tool was last refreshed in June with the ability to anonymously share submitted data with state public health agencies and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At the time, Apple said age, symptoms and other data would be used to improve the app and to help health officials better understand the virus.
Previous updates to the tool added self-care guidance and changes to COVID-19 symptom tracking.
Apple worked with the CDC, the Coronavirus Task Force, and FEMA on the screening app and accompanying website, both to deliver information about the virus and help ease the burden of an overloaded U.S. healthcare system. It should be noted that the tool and the Apple-Google Exposure Notification system are separate projects.