Apple Watch adds automatic handwashing detection for Covid-19 safety

Don’t turn off that faucet just yet! Now, Apple Watch will make sure you’re doing a good job of washing your hands, slackers.

Apple unveiled the new Apple Watch operating system, WatchOS 7, at its virtual Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday. One new feature seems slightly infantilizing, but is probably extremely useful for both your health and society’s. It’s called Automatic Handwashing Detection, which starts a 20-second countdown when the Watch notices you’re washing your hands.

The CDC recommends scrubbing with soap and water for 20 seconds to prevent the spread of disease. That practice has entered mainstream discourse in the efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19. The handwashing feature from Apple is a timely tool to encourage people to follow that public health advice.

Using motion and sound detection, and machine learning, your Apple Watch will supposedly be able to tell when you start washing your hands. That will initiate a 20-second countdown, shown on your watch face in a fun, bubbly animation. If you stop washing your hands before the 20 seconds are up, the Watch will prompt you to keep going. Once you’ve reached your goal, you’ll get a “Well done!” from your Watch pal.

The Apple Watch will also keep track of your handwashing stats in the Health app, showing both “frequency” and “duration.” Depending on how diligent of a washer you are, those stats could be extremely rewarding, or embarrassing.

Handwashing detection is something that users will have to enable before Apple Watch starts being an active member of your bathroom routine. That opt-in setup is probably a good thing: While the countdown might be useful from a public health perspective, it’s easy to see how it could get annoying, fast. 

Apple likes to tout that its Watch is the “ultimate guardian for your health.” Now, with the handwashing feature, it’s not just “guarding” you — it’s protecting society from your germs and lazy washing habits, too. So get to scrubbing!