Google has launched a U.S.-focused portal which aims to give people the latest guidance on COVID-19 as the death toll continues to rise across the country.
The search giant launched Google.com/covid19 which contains resources and links for people looking for information on symptoms, testing, and developments. Currently only in English, it will be rolled it out in other languages and countries in the future.
In a blog post, Google said that the disease was by far the most common topic people looked for in 2020 and it wanted to be able to link users to resources from local and national health authorities. There would also be access to Twitter accounts of civic and health groups which can keep people abreast of the latest local guidance.
Tapping into resources provided by the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the portal would also provide safety and prevention tips as well as information on education and prevention.
“This new format organizes the search results page to help people easily navigate information and resources, and it will also make it possible to add more information over time as it becomes available,” Emily Moxley, Google’s product manager said in a blog post.
“As coronavirus becomes a challenge in more communities and as authorities around the world develop new guidance and tools to address the pandemic, we’ll continue to find more opportunities to connect people with key information to keep themselves, their families, and their communities safe,” the post added.
Initially planned for launch on March 16, it was delayed due to the swift changes in local and national guidance, Reuters reported.
Last week, Google’s sister company Verily launched a website which could help triage people who think they might have COVID-19 and point them to testing sites.
The screening tool was for those who lived in or near Santa Clara County and San Mateo County, south of San Francisco but within a day, huge demand meant that it ran out of appointments. It was also not, as President Donald Trump had initially claimed, a screening website which would be rolled out nationally.
The Verge reported that tech companies are trying to give coronavirus-related support, but have not yet managed to help people get access to testing, which is the main problem as the disease takes hold.
The publication reported that Google’s new COVID-19 portal may offer a questionnaire and details about where to drive to for a test in future, but the internet giant said that this would not happen unless “there’s authoritative and trustworthy information on those sites.”
World Health Organization advice for avoiding spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Hygiene advice
- Clean hands frequently with soap and water, or alcohol-based hand rub.
- Wash hands after coughing or sneezing; when caring for the sick; before; during and after food preparation; before eating; after using the toilet; when hands are visibly dirty; and after handling animals or waste.
- Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.Avoid touching your hands, nose and mouth. Do not spit in public.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or bent elbow when coughing or sneezing. Discard the tissue immediately and clean your hands.
Medical advice
- If you feel unwell (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) seek medical care early and call local health authorities in advance.
- Stay up to date on COVID-19 developments issued by health authorities and follow their guidance.
Mask usage
- Healthy individuals only need to wear a mask if taking care of a sick person.
- Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing. Masks are effective when used in combination with frequent hand cleaning.
- Do not touch the mask while wearing it. Clean hands if you touch the mask.
Learn how to properly put on, remove and dispose of masks. Clean hands after disposing of the mask. - Do not reuse single-use masks.
