iOS 13.7 launched today with a new system for battling the pandemic

Today brought a surprise update for iOS 13: iOS 13.7 adds Exposure Notifications Express, the next phase of Apple and Google's collaboration to aid local, regional, and national governments in tracking COVID-19 exposure and isolating those infected. iOS 13.7 adds a few additional minor features, and it is joined by iPadOS 13.7, which mostly includes bug fixes. Google will launch its own version of Exposure Notifications Express on Android later this month.

Back in April, Apple and Google announced a joint plan to develop a system that would use the Bluetooth hardware in iPhones and Android phones to assist in contact tracing amidst the pandemic. "Exposure Notifications Express" is the moniker for the second phase of this rollout—the first phase began with software updates in May that included an API to help public health authorities develop their own apps for this purpose. Now, with this update, those authorities can gain the benefits of high-tech exposure tracking without developing their own apps.

In Apple's implementation for iOS, users who are in participating states are prompted to opt in to receive notifications if the contact-tracing data indicates they may have been exposed. The user is then advised on next steps to take, which are defined by the user's local public health authority. Public health authorities define when and under what circumstances notifications are sent as well as what guidance is provided to those who may have been exposed.

So far, Maryland, Nevada, Virginia, and the District of Columbia are participating in the Exposure Notifications Express system, though more may come later. Virginia, North Dakota, Wyoming, Alabama, Arizona, and Nevada had previously launched exposure notification solutions using the API. Also, 20 countries have already launched exposure-tracking apps. The new Exposure Notifications Express approach does not impact existing solutions, Apple and Google say.

As for other changes in iOS 13.7, Apple's release notes say the update adds new Memoji stickers and enables iCloud Drive folder sharing for the Files app as well as new bug fixes. Since iPads are not included in the exposure notification system, the iPadOS 13.7 update focuses on bug fixes.

iOS 13.7 is likely either the last or the next-to-last software update for iPhones before the launch of iOS 14, which is expected to happen within the next few weeks.

Listing image by Apple