Imperative steps-in-place on Google's COVID info wall, can advance its relevancy many-folds

It's been over two years now that #COVID has drenched us all from head to toe. Display of information across social media platforms or news channels played a crucial role in guiding people from time to time. Google's search tool, during this outbreak, transformed into a gigantic tool to fetch out relevant, timely and authentic information. 

Before punching down itself completely, as experts say, this virus #SARS-CoV-02 will still rule in our lives for at least 2-3 years, though not aggressively.  And thus, it becomes imperative to keep ourselves updated with all the tools we have in-place and in-action. 

These updates are crucial and must be enacted in time to produce a solid ground for people, who are looking for information related to vaccines, vaccine centers/PHCs, availability of booster shots, side-effects of vaccines and its treatment, testing centers, and many such relevant topics. 

Google can enhance its COVID-info-wall with the following inclusions:

1. A tab on Frequent Asked Questions(FAQs) in the top right corner assist in providing basic queries on COVID/Health info(s). It could also carry myth busters along.


2. Authentic government sites on health (Local/State/National). For Delhi and India, instances can be drawn in the following manner:

    State- for example- Delhi, must include,

  • delhi.gov.in
  • dshm.delhi.gov.in
  • Twitter handle - https://delhifightscorona.in
  • health.delhigovt.nic.in                 
    National : India

  • nhp.gov.in
  • india.gov.in
  • mohfw.gov.in
  • dot.gov.in
  • pib.gov.in
  • ndma.gov.in
  • icmr.nic.in
  • ayush.gov.in
3. Authentic sites tackling misinformation:
  • who.int
  • un.org
  • meity.gov.in
  • worldbank.org    
4. News channels can't be considered under authentic ambiance. They are just mediums to convey the reliable information from valid sources. So, these news sites can be shifted to some other section called 'news'.

5. Availability of helpline numbers (Local/State/National): 24/7

6. Solid information on COVID grief/bereavement department pertaining to different states must be displayed. If any state doesn't own such a department, they should create one so that issues related to COVID could be heard without any procrastination.

While going through the COVID-info-wall on Google, I found these steps missing and prompted me to convey them through this blog. Hope, Google will consider these mindful steps!

By-Rashmi Singh

 

#COVID19 #GoogleInfoWall #Google #SearchTool #NewAlgorithms  @SundarPichai @Google #SundarPichai #India #World #Information #Quick&Useful #PublicHealthEmergency

 

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