Apple's Maps app may soon help save lives as discovered by 9to5Mac, the iOS Maps app allows hospitals to register as testing locations for coronavirus, making it easier for iPhone owners to get tested for the disease

Apple recently released a registration portal that allows healthcare facilities to register as COVID-19 testing locations Once a hospital or facility is approved by Apple, it will appear on Apple Maps as a testing location

According to a screenshot of the Apple portal, COVID-19 inspection locations are clearly marked with a large red asterisk icon The map will also let you know if the location you find requires a referral or an appointment

This Apple Maps update is just one of several steps Apple is taking to combat the spread of the coronavirus The company just announced a joint initiative with Google to track the spread of the virus using contact tracing, an opt-in method of securely tracking iPhones and Android devices and letting them know if they have had recent contact with a COVID-19 positive person

Apple also has a COVID-19 screening tool available on both web browsers and mobile devices that allows users to answer a few questions about their symptoms to determine if they should go to a doctor If viewing the webpage is too cumbersome, one can also screen for possible viral symptoms by speaking to Siri

It is unclear how soon coronavirus testing sites will appear on Apple Maps However, now that the registration of medical facilities has begun, one should expect these sites to be searchable within the next few weeks