IOS 13.5 was released yesterday and many were interested in learning about the features added for COVID-19.
Apple's new mobile operating system makes face recognition easier if you wear a mask, and the option to enter the password appears much faster.
But the new version also brings an API for recording COVID-19 to the device. The feature is opt-in which means you do not have to send (or receive) information from your device if you do not want to.
The new COVID-19 update feature added to iOS 13.5 is enabled by default if the API is supported in the country where you live.
For example as you will see below in Greece the function is disabled as this function is not yet supported. If you live in a country that has access to the API, you can turn off logging and notifications by following these steps.
Open the Settings app and go to the Privacy - Health section.
At the top, you'll see "COVID-19 Exposure Logging." Press it. On the next screen, enable or disable the feature. You should have it enabled Bluetooth for the feature to work.
The ability to record information about COVID-19 will appear on all devices that have been upgraded to iOS 13.5, but as mentioned above it is not available in all countries. So if you press to activate the function in Greece you will see it message "Not available in your area".
According to company the new feature may come later in Greece as well, but there are no guarantees for this.
What is virus exposure recording?
Exposure logging monitors people who have come in contact with other people. It collects information via Bluetooth and the data according to the manufacturers is not personal. Your device is assigned a random ID that is not associated with your Apple ID, phone number, or any other personal information you have on your device.
This information is exchanged between other devices. They keep a log of who was close to whom. When a person reports that they have been infected with COVID-19, the people they come in contact with are notified. They do not receive information about the infected person, as Apple states that it protects the user's privacy.
Once you know you may have come in contact with someone who is COVID-19 positive, you can choose to go into quarantine and wait for symptoms to appear or get tested.
