Apple’s Siri now accepts queries about COVID-19

Apple has updated Siri so it can respond to queries about COVID-19 using answers sourced from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and the U.S. Public Health Service.

When asked with the question, “Do I have coronavirus (COVID-19)?”, Siri will begin by providing the user with a few yes/no questions to see if there’s a risk that he/she might have contracted the virus.

The questions are mostly about symptoms of the disease, such as fever, dry cough, or shortness of breath. If the user says he/she has extreme or life-threatening symptoms, Siri will advise the user to call 911 or seek emergency medical attention.

If the user says the symptoms are not extreme or life-threatening, Siri advises the user to stay at home and separate himself from others. It also suggests to contact a medical provider if the condition worsens, if the user is 65 or over, or have a serious medical condition like lung or heart disease, or diabetes.

If the user says no to any of the symptoms, Siri will say that the user is at a lower risk for COVID-19 but will advise to watch out for symptoms, to wash hands regularly, and avoid close contact with people outside.