Coronavirus continues its campaign of destruction across the UK today, claiming the lives of 54 more people. The worsening crisis comes after the PM issued his sternest warning yet yesterday: tough measures will be enforced if the general public keeps ignoring the social distancing advice. One critical part of the advice is to self-isolate for seven days if you spot the mild symptoms.

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Despite government officials and public health bodies reiterating this point, many people across the UK feel like they are stumbling in the dark, unsure of what to watch out for and what to do about it.

Now it has been revealed that your smartphone can help to guide you through this uncertain period.

Apple has updated the voice assistant on the iPhone to help users check their symptoms if they think they may have coronavirus.

Siri is now on tap to help fill in any crucial gaps of knowledge you may have.

If you ask Siri a fairly genetic question such as ‘Do I have the coronavirus?’, the AI-assisted application will ask a series of questions to help you determine whether or not you have the virus and subsequent steps you should follow.

These questions have been developed using information from the US Public Health Service in association with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The line of questioning is relatively basic – such as whether or not you have a dry cough or have come into contact with anyone who has tested positive for the coronavirus.

If Siri thinks you’re at a low risk, it’ll suggest you watch out for certain symptoms and regularly wash your hands.

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If Siri determines that your symptoms as non-serious, it’ll recommend you to stay at home and self-isolate but if it deems your condition serious (breathing difficulties, dizziness and chest pain) it will recommend you seek immediate medical attention.

At present, the new feature has only been rolled out in the US.

If you ask Siri about coronavirus here in the UK, you’ll be directed to the government’s website on COVID-19.

What we know so far about the virus

COVD-19 is a highly contagious strain of virus that belongs to a family of viruses called coronaviruses.

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It is a respiratory infection that spreads in cough droplets.

The virus has also been shown to survive in the air for up to three hours.

As a result, public health bodies are urging against all non-essential travel and organising large gatherings to minimise human contact.

Hygiene advice has also been issued to minimise the spread of the virus.

The most important measure is to wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds.

The NHS urges that you repeat this practice whenever you enter a new environment.

Other hygiene tips include:

• Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
• Put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards

It is also important to avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth where possible.

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