How to Find COVID-19 Test Locations on Apple Maps
I hope you never need to find a COVID-19 test site, period. (Stay in quarantine! Be safe!) But if you do, and you are using your iPhone or iPad, you can now easily find the nearest test site via Apple Maps.
Apple hasn’t gone so far as to include the COVID-19 Testing Sites category in the revised list of priority categories in the search box. If you touch the search box in Apple Maps right now, you will see something like this:
You will have to search for the testing site directly if you need to know where it is, but this is simple enough: either “coronavirus” or “COVID-19” should be all you need to enter to open a map of nearby test sites:
Clicking on any result gives you hours of operation on the testing site, although Apple will also warn you that you might have to jump over additional hoops to get tested onsite – be it a doctor’s referral, an appointment, or who knows what else. You will know where to go, yes, but I highly recommend you click on the location website (or call them) to see what you need to do to get tested before heading out into the world.
Typically, you need to call your primary healthcare provider first to set up the means to check for your symptoms – most likely through a virtual telemedicine visit. From there, you will likely get guidance on what to do if testing is needed. If you don’t have a primary healthcare provider, your next best bet is to call your local or state health department and see what your options are. If you honestly think that your symptoms (including those that you spent time around) could be coronavirus , make sure you isolate yourself during this process in case you become infected.