Cupertino based company Apple has taken a step towards the ongoing coronavirus scare. It has updated its virtual assistant Siri , which will provide information on coronavirus also known as the COVID-19. The users of Siri can ask the voice assistant a few questions like “What are the symptoms of coronavirus?” or “How does coronavirus spread?” and on the basis of what information it has, it will offer advice based on what symptoms they have. The new function was noticed by the users on March 21, 2020.
When the users first ask about the virtual assistant about the virus, it will first ask the user if they are experiencing any of the related symptoms which can include short of breathe, dry cough or fever. People who are experiencing some extreme symptoms and are not able to handle things on their own will be asked to call 911. People who are not very sure of what the symptoms could be will be asked to self-isolate themselves if they appear. There will also be linked to the health applications for anyone who cannot at that moment reach a health care provider.
The answers which are provided by Siri will originate from the Public Health Service of the United States and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. For now the answers are more applicable for the users in the United States. When one of the users had tried to ask a question for the COVID-19 situation in the United Kingdom, Siri had provided with a link which directed to the information page on a UK government website. It did not even provide a questionnaire about the symptoms.
Other companies like Facebook, Microsoft and Google are also taking efforts to launch information sources that will provide info about the virus and what precautions could be taken The information originates from the World Health Organization as it is reliable.
Photo Credits: Cnet
