U.K. iPhone and iPad users who open the App Store this morning are being met with a COVID-19 public service announcement from the British government, signaling an expansion of Apple's efforts to prominently display official coronavirus alerts on its devices.

coronavirus app store uk psa
Tapping on the prioritized card takes users to an NHS app link and a video containing coronavirus protection guidance from the UK government's chief medical officer, professor Chris Whitty:

To help save lives, stay at home. Anyone can spread coronavirus. You should now only go out when absolutely necessary, for food, medicine, work, or exercise. Always try to stay two meters apart. Do not meet others outside your household – even friends and family.

Stay Home. Protect the NHS. Save Lives.

The ‌App Store‌ is an unfamiliar home for a PSA – Apple News would be the normal location for this kind of content – but Apple is obviously trying to get out the official guidance to as many users as possible, including anyone browsing for new apps and updates on their devices.

In the U.S., Apple began displaying White House public service announcements at the top of the ‌App Store‌ on March 21, offering official guidance on the "dos and don'ts" of social distancing. Users in other countries are also likely to see similar advice from their national governments.

This is just the latest of several other measures that Apple is taking in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Apple said earlier this month that it is critically evaluating coronavirus-related apps submitted to the ‌App Store‌ to ensure data sources are reputable and that developers presenting these apps are from recognized entities such as government organizations, health-focused NGOs, companies deeply credentialed in health issues, and medical or educational institutions.

Top Rated Comments

ignatius345 Avatar
62 months ago

If you go outside for essentials only, wear a mask. Protect yourself and others. Best be safe than sorry.
Here in the US there is an acute shortage of N95 masks in hospitals. People walking around outside need to maintain proper social distancing (6 feet) and not hoard PPE that our medical people desperately need.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iGeek2019 Avatar
62 months ago
Given how some people over here seem to have ‘carried on’ regardless I guess it’s another way of saying: listen, it’s for your own good!
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
page3 Avatar
62 months ago
British government have been amazing so far. Daily press conference with different experts giving clear and concise updates and advice. Very happy with how they are handling an extremely difficult and worrying situation.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NightFox Avatar
62 months ago

You jest? British government have been amazing so far. Daily press conference with different experts giving clear and concise updates and advice. Very happy with how they are handling an extremely difficult and worrying situation.
I think the problem is that many people seem to take the view that the Government's inability to say "here you go, all solved for you" is gross incompetence, an attitude unfortunately stoked by elements of the media with nothing else to report on and many people's tendency to rely on Facebook as their primary source of news and information.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NightFox Avatar
62 months ago

No actual link to the app?
Given that the article is actually about where that link can be found, I'm not sure that's really a massive problem.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Akiainavas Avatar
62 months ago

British government have been amazing so far. Daily press conference with different experts giving clear and concise updates and advice. Very happy with how they are handling an extremely difficult and worrying situation.
You are kidding right ?

We’ve been hearing that it’s not a big deal for over 3 weeks. The crazy Italians are overreacting they said, then that they want at least 60% of the population to get it to become immune ( despite the fact a 2-3% mortality rate amongst 60% of a 60 million population would mean hundreds of thousands of death and absolutely no scientific backing of that idea - in Japan people cought the virus again after recovering ), then that economy is more important than the lives of people... we only mandated lockdown when cases started to skyrocket... schools didn’t close until a few days ago, we’ve been hearing constant mixed messages and despite massive shortages the government is refusing to join Europe wide purchasing scheme essentially putting us at the back of the queue despite being invited to participate even though we left the EU and deciding not to join out of pure spite... essentially denying the public and NHS workers life saving equipment.

And do i need to mention the lies about 350m for NHS that are nowhere to be found ? Or maybe claims by the government how Nurses are “low skilled” and not needed - while they are now begging the public to volunteer, including European nationals they spat on for years ?

Or should i mention British nationals stuck abroad with absolutely zero assistance from the government to even get them home while they are busy deporting innocent people because clearly that’s more important...

How about general panic and empty shelves which prove that people don’t trust the government ? How about racist attacks on Asian population that the government hasn’t even addressed etc...
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

carplay next gen hero

RIP, CarPlay 2?

Sunday December 29, 2024 7:32 am PST by
Apple's website continues to state that the first vehicle models with next-generation CarPlay will "arrive in 2024." With less than three days remaining in the year, however, that timeframe is looking more and more unlikely. It would not be entirely Apple's fault if the stated 2024 target is missed, given that it is ultimately up to automakers to roll out the software in vehicles, but it is...
apple vision pro

Apple Vision Pro May Now Be Out of Production

Tuesday December 31, 2024 2:00 pm PST by
Apple's first-generation Vision Pro headset may have now ceased production, following reports of reduced demand and production cuts earlier in the year. In October, The Information's Wayne Ma reported that Apple had abruptly reduced production of the Vision Pro headset ahead of potential plans to stop making the current version of the device completely by the end of 2024. With the year now...
aapl logo banner

Apple Broke a 13-Year Hardware Streak in 2024

Wednesday January 1, 2025 1:00 am PST by
For over a decade, Apple has consistently announced all-new hardware product lines, from the iPad in 2010 to the Vision Pro in 2023. But for the first time in 14 years, Apple failed to announce any major new hardware products in 2024, focusing solely on updates and refinements to its existing product lines. While Apple unveiled a large number of significant hardware refreshes in 2024, such...
iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

'iPhone SE 4' Rumored to Be Named 'iPhone 16E'

Wednesday January 1, 2025 8:31 am PST by
Apple is expected to release a fourth-generation iPhone SE in March, but it has been rumored that the device will have a different name. The device succeeding the third-generation iPhone SE will be named the iPhone 16E, according to a December 13 post from Fixed Focus Digital, an account with over two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. On December 31, another leaker...
Apple TV Plus Black Banner

Apple TV+ Announces Free Weekend [Updated]

Monday December 30, 2024 6:21 am PST by
Apple TV+ is set to be available to stream for free from Friday, January 3 to Sunday, January 5, providing its full catalog with no subscription fee. Following a series of teasers, Apple confirmed the free weekend on social media, building anticipation for new releases early in 2025 such as the second season of "Severance." Simply open the Apple TV app to watch for free. Apple has never...
airpods pro 2 gradient

AirPods Pro 3 Expected Next Year: Here's What We Know

Monday December 23, 2024 4:18 am PST by
Despite being released over two years ago, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 continue to dominate the wireless earbud market. However, with the AirPods Pro 3 expected to launch sometime in 2025, anyone thinking of buying Apple's premium earbuds may be wondering if the next generation is worth holding out for. Apart from their audio and noise-canceling performance, which are generally regarded as...
Apple Hefei Wallpaper Mac

Apple Shares Special Wallpaper and Watch Face to Celebrate New Store

Wednesday January 1, 2025 8:59 am PST by
Apple recently announced it will be opening a new retail store at the MixC Hefei shopping mall in Hefei, China on January 18 at 10 a.m. local time. To celebrate the store's upcoming grand opening, Apple has shared both a special wallpaper and Apple Watch face featuring a custom-designed Apple logo. The wallpaper is available for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Ahead of the Chinese New Year...