Amazon’s Alexa updated to help respond to users who are concerned they may have novel coronavirus

Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant can now respond to users who are concerned they may be infected with novel coronavirus

  • Users can now query Amazon’s voice assistant on if they have coronavirus
  • Alexa can respond to users with information pulled from the CDC
  • A new feature also makes the assistant sing along with hand washing
  • It mirrors a similar feature rolled out with Apple’s Siri 
  • Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?

Amazon’s voice assistant, Alexa, can now help users who are worried about having been infected with novel coronavirus.

According to the company, users can now query any device equipped with Alexa with phrases like ‘Alexa, what do I do if I think I have coronavirus?’ and the assistant will begin to quiz them about their symptoms.

The assistant will then provide users with information pulled from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in an effort to provide sound advice on what to do.

Amazon’s line of Alexa-enabled devices like the Echo (pictured) can now provide users guidance on what to do if they think they may have novel coronavirus  

As a part of the update, users can now also ask Alexa  to ‘sing along’ while they wash their hands to help them time the task for 20 seconds – the recommended amount of time for proper sanitation.

That feature is currently available in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, India, the UK, and the US and mirrors a similar feature rolled out by Google on its home assistants.

The feature most closely mirrors one rolled out by Apple this week which updated its own voice assistant, Siri, to help provide users with guidance on coronavirus. 

As reported by CNBC, Siri is now capable of responding to users who ask the assistant about whether they have novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

Queries like, ‘Hey Siri, do I have the coronavirus?’ will now elicit a questionnaire asking users if they have a fever or a cough and will recommend those that are experiencing potentially fatal symptoms to call 911.  

If the symptoms appear to be more mild, Siri will instruct users to stay home and avoid contact with others instead. 

Siri can now respond to users who are worried they may have COVID-19 using a questionnaire to judge their symptoms (stock)

Siri can now respond to users who are worried they may have COVID-19 using a questionnaire to judge their symptoms (stock)  

It may also redirect some users to the App Store where they can download apps that let them consult with a doctor digitally. 

Apple says that all of its answers are pulled from the U.S. Public Health Service, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services, in addition to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While the service is currently only available in the US, it’s possible that it could be rolled out more broadly in the future. 

STATE-WIDE CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWNS

In the most extreme measures to date, 17 states have ordered 100 percent of non-essential workforces to stay home to help curb the spread of COVID-19.  

CALIFORNIA

Locked down: 39.5 million 

Deaths:  35

CONNECTICUT 

Locked down: 3.5 million 

Deaths: 10

DELAWARE

Locked down: 967,000

Deaths: 0 

HAWAII

Locked down: 1.42 million

Deaths: 0

ILLINOIS 

Locked down: 12.74  million 

Deaths: 12

INDIANA 

Locked down: 6.7 million 

Deaths: 7

LOUISIANA

Locked down: 4.66 million

Deaths: 35 

MASSACHUSETTS

Locked down: 6.9 million locked down

Deaths: 9

MICHIGAN

Locked down: 10 million

Deaths: 15

NEVADA

Locked down: 3.03 million

Deaths: 4

NEW JERSEY 

Locked down: 8.9 million 

Deaths: 27

NEW YORK

Locked down: 19.54 million 

Deaths: 183 

OHIO

Locked down: 11.6 million

Deaths: 6 

OREGON

Locked down: 4.19 million 

Deaths: 5

PENNSYLVANIA

Locked down: 12.81 million 

Deaths: 6

WASHINGTON

Locked down: 7.5 million

Deaths: 111

WEST VIRGINIA 

Locked down: 1.8 million 

Deaths: 0