Apple Maps has been updated to show the nearest COVID-19 testing sites in the US.
According to a report from TechCrunch, the company introduced the feature overnight (April 28) and, when searching for COVID-19 within the app, Apple will recommend nearby testing center and offer more information on what the site can offer, such as free universal testing.
COVID-19 Testing now also appears at the top of the search pane whenever you search for a location within Apple Maps, encouraging people to make a trip to their nearest testing site.
The information pane that shows up when you click on a testing site includes its opening hours, address, phone number, and a warning that users may need to be referred by a doctor or book an appointment before they can turn up and receive their coronavirus test.
This new feature complements Apple’s recent web portal, which allows people to submit their current diagnosis to determine whether or not they are likely to have the virus and then be directed to information on how to self-isolate and receive support from health authorities.
It is not yet known whether the company will introduce the feature in other countries.
Apple has also teamed up with Google during the global pandemic to develop a new coronavirus tracking system that will be available across iOS and Android, allowing governments and local authorities to build their own contact-tracing applications as the coronavirus continues to spread. In the months ahead, this feature is hoped to help some economies reopen and allow consumers to return to a more normal state of affairs.
Stay tuned for more information on Apple and COVID-19, as soon as we get it.