Apple's COVID-19 App Gains Features for Accessing State Guidelines and Self Care Tips

Apple today introduced new features for its COVID-19 screening app, which is designed to help people stay informed and take the proper steps to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.The 2.0 version of the app adds a feature for selecting a state of residence to see specific guidance information from that state's health department, and it provides tips for keeping physically and mentally healthy.

applecovidappupdate
Apple has also updated its accompanying COVID-19 website to provide the same information to users.

With the new state feature, users can choose their state to be directed to coronavirus guidelines offered by the state health department, and available information and guidelines will vary by location. In California, for example, Apple directs users to covid19.ca.gov, a website that provides dos and don'ts, symptoms to watch out for, emotional health resources, information about financial help, and more.

The update adds many self-care tips to both the app and website, such as staying hydrated, exercising for 30 minutes a day, getting adequate sleep, taking breaks for fun and relaxing activities, stimulating the brain through books, puzzles, or painting, talking to people, and journaling.

It provides shopping tips like purchasing two weeks of groceries at a time, stocking up on long-lasting foods, buying extra household items, and taking precautions such as wearing gloves and wiping down shopping carts.

Apple's site and app also offer tips on working from home, creating a household emergency plan, and what to do if you get sick.

Apple designed its COVID-19 app and website in partnership with the CDC, White House Coronavirus Task Force, and FEMA. Along with the features introduced today, the tools provided by Apple let users answer a series of questions on risk factors, recent exposure, and symptoms to receive CDC recommendations on the next steps that they need to take.

The screening tool is available to anyone who is 18 years or older in the United States. Data provided in the COVID-19 app and on the website is not shared with Apple, the CDC, or other government agencies.

Popular Stories

AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Friday April 18, 2025 5:16 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
iphone 17 air dummy unbox therapy

iPhone 17 Air's Extreme Thinness Demoed in New Video

Tuesday April 22, 2025 10:22 am PDT by
Apple plans to release an all-new super thin iPhone this year, debuting it alongside the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. We've seen pictures of dummy models, cases, and renders with the design, but Lewis Hilsenteger of Unbox Therapy today showed off newer dummy models that give us a better idea of just how thin the "iPhone 17 Air" will be. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be ...
ipad air windows 11 arm

M2 iPad Air Runs Windows 11 ARM via Emulation, Thanks to EU Rules

Tuesday April 22, 2025 5:01 am PDT by
A developer has demonstrated Windows 11 ARM running on an M2 iPad Air using emulation, which has become much easier since the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations came into effect. As spotted by Windows Latest, NTDev shared an instance of the emulation on social media and posted a video on YouTube (embedded below) demonstrating it in action. The achievement relies on new EU regulatory...
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday April 17, 2025 4:12 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
iOS 18

iOS 18.5 Includes Only a Few Changes So Far

Monday April 21, 2025 11:00 am PDT by
Apple seeded the third beta of iOS 18.5 to developers today, and so far the software update includes only a few minor changes. The changes are in the Mail and Settings apps. In the Mail app, you can now easily turn off contact photos directly within the app, by tapping on the circle with three dots in the top-right corner. In the Settings app, AppleCare+ coverage information is more...
iphone 17 pro majin bu sky blue

iPhone 17 Pro Allegedly Coming in Sky Blue Color Used for MacBook Air

Tuesday April 22, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
Apple will unveil the iPhone 17 Pro in a new Sky Blue color, the same color that debuted on the latest M4 MacBook Air models Apple released in March. That's according to the leaker Majin Bu. Concept mockup from Majin Bu Writing on his website, Bu claims that "sources close to the supply chain confirm that several iPhone 17 Pro prototypes have been made in various colors, with Sky Blue...
maxresdefault

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Sunday April 13, 2025 7:52 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and ...

Top Rated Comments

trusso Avatar
66 months ago

Data provided in the COVID-19 app and on the website is not shared with Apple, the CDC, or other government agencies.
If only we knew this to be 100% true. :oops:

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
roland.g Avatar
66 months ago

Apple would not do this because ...
they're not an authorized government outlet/outfit to show information of health directly related to COVID-19; this could be a legal issue for them that they'd NOT win.
Also notice how their stating the link to the government source and abilty to change your current state?!

This is also why no direct readings for health via WatchOS can be done. This app is more an advisory - just like anything on Android OS as well.

Here in Canada our provincial governments (at least in Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec) have launched an app directly themselves.

It's a great idea you have to have this integrated into Health app but Apple, most likely by law, cannot and will not do this.
I also believe Apple should put a few 'tabs' down at the bottom of the Wallet app and move ALL commerce related apps to that app, so that becomes the "folder" for accessing everything from restaurants/food/Amazon/etc. That would clean up 30% of the apps on my phone.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DeepIn2U Avatar
66 months ago

Apple, you needed a separate app??! You couldn't integrate all of this into the already existing Health app. Wow you really don't get it.
Apple would not do this because ...
they're not an authorized government outlet/outfit to show information of health directly related to COVID-19; this could be a legal issue for them that they'd NOT win.
Also notice how their stating the link to the government source and abilty to change your current state?!

This is also why no direct readings for health via WatchOS can be done. This app is more an advisory - just like anything on Android OS as well.

Here in Canada our provincial governments (at least in Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec) have launched an app directly themselves.

It's a great idea you have to have this integrated into Health app but Apple, most likely by law, cannot and will not do this.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tech198 Avatar
66 months ago
the specific state wouldn't be needed if we *alll* followed the same rules to begin with. No wonder why there is confusion..

Bette safe, than sorry.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
weup togo Avatar
66 months ago
and it doesn't even work right on the iPad, what a hollow shell of a once-great company
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)