In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, developers at tech giants like Apple and Google have continuously worked to develop software that helps the governments and the global community curb the spread of the virus.

From helping people stay connected, to keeping up with the latest news, and coping with the work from home setup for students and workers, smartphones offer many ways to help you cope with the pandemic. But aside from these, you can actually use your iPhone to help fight COVID-19.

Below are several ways to maximize your iPhone's helpfulness and work through the pandemic.

1. Use Your Phone as a Digital COVID-19 Passport

Survey results conducted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in September 2020 showed that 85 percent of passengers feel safer when touchless processing is implemented in airports. Meanwhile, 70 percent of travelers are wary of handing over their valuables to staff and agents in airports.

Girl on Airport Wearing Mask

That being said, IATA is planning to release a coronavirus vaccine passport through an iOS app in mid-April 2021, with its Android counterpart to follow suit.

This is similar to what the state of New York has launched: a free app named Excelsior Pass. It acts as a digital airline boarding pass. The pass aims to provide a faster and easier way of presenting a digital proof of vaccination, as well as recently testing negative on a PCR or antigen test.

To add to this, Apple Maps has a feature that displays COVID-19 measures at airports. By simply searching for an airport in your Maps app, you will be provided with requirements and measures implemented by the airport. It also shows related COVID-19 health information and a link to the airport’s travel guidance page.

2. Unlock Your iPhone Hands-Free

Since Face ID doesn’t work well when you’re wearing a mask, Apple added a quick way to unlock your phone using your Apple Watch as a new feature in the iOS 14.5. Your Apple Watch should also be updated to at least watchOS 7.4.

To enable this feature:

  1. Go to Settings > Face ID on your iPhone.
  2. Enter your passcode.
  3. Scroll down and enable the Apple Watch slider under Unlock With Apple Watch.

Keep in mind that you'll need to have a passcode on your Apple Watch to use this function. Now, whenever your watch is close to your iPhone, the wearable will automatically unlock your phone. If you didn’t mean to do this, just select Lock iPhone on your Apple Watch’s screen.

This feature does not work for other protections that require Face ID, such as when using Apple Pay or making an App Store purchase. In this case, you're be required to use Face ID, or enter your Apple ID password.

3. Let Your iPhone Notify You of Possible Exposure

Apple and Google worked together to release the Exposure Notifications system, which utilizes Bluetooth technology to fully automate and scale contact tracing efforts. Once you turn on this feature, your iPhone will start sending out a beacon via Bluetooth, which comes with an identifier.

To protect your privacy, the random Bluetooth identifier is just an arbitrary string of numbers that changes every 10-20 minutes for added protection. Other phones nearby are also broadcasting their own beacons and listening for others. Once your phone receives a beacon from another device, your iPhone will securely store that ID.

Here's how to enable exposure notifications on your iPhone:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Scroll down and tap the Exposure Notifications tab.
  3. Tap Turn On Exposure Notifications, then Continue.
  4. Choose your country, region, and state.
  5. If your region already has a contact tracing app, tap Open App Store.

If you wish to disable exposure notifications, go to the same menu mentioned above, scroll all the way down, and tap Turn Off Exposure Notifications.

Below is a list of US states and regions that already have COVID tracing apps:

Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Also included are Guam and the District of Columbia.

If you reside outside the United States, you can check MIT’s COVID Tracing Tracker project or Wikipedia's page on COVID-19 apps to see if your country has already deployed its COVID tracing app.

4. Healthcare Is Within Reach on Your Phone

Aside from video conferencing, food delivery apps, and productivity solutions, your iPhone can also take advantage of healthcare apps. There are several available, and most of them are free.

Some can help you compare medication prices, so you can get the cheaper prescriptions and have them delivered right to your doorstep. Some help you get important measurements for your eyeglasses, and others give you coupons so you can buy medicines at cheaper prices.

Read more: Important Medical Apps to Help Navigate the Pandemic

To add, there are many healthcare apps that can provide you with quick, hassle-free access to licensed practitioners, from counselors to doctors, nurses, and psychologists.

5. Check Apple Maps for COVID-19 Vaccine Locations

If you are qualified to get a vaccine, you can use Apple Maps to find your nearest vaccination location. Do this by quickly searching for providers and pharmacies using your iPhone.

You have two ways of finding vaccine locations:

  1. Ask Siri: “Where can I get a COVID vaccination?”
  2. Use the search bar in Apple Maps to manually look for nearby COVID-19 vaccine locations. To do this, open the Apple Maps app, tap on the search bar, then look for COVID-19 Vaccines in the Find Nearby menu. Alternatively, type "COVID-19 testing site" into the search bar.

The place card on the map contains relevant information for each vaccine site, including a link to the provider’s website, operating hours, address, and phone numbers. Over 20,000 locations are listed in the initial rollout.

Stay Smart During the Pandemic With Your iPhone

While it's difficult to fight against an invisible enemy, the world has taken significant measures to reduce its spread.

Your smartphone reduces contact—and keeps you safe in the process—by making everything digital. But it can also make your life easier, and transactions seamless, as you navigate through the pandemic.

Despite this, don't forget to follow basic measures like wearing masks, maintaining appropriate social distancing, reducing contact with people and surfaces, avoiding public places, and keeping your environment clean.