Google is working on a new website that will allow members of the public to self-diagnose coronavirus before seeking additional help. As the outbreak has intensified in the US, so has additional pressure to ensure testing is done quickly and effectively, and it now looks like Google has stepped in to help.

The coronavirus outbreak has caused significant upheaval to individuals, businesses and countries with everyone looking to do what they can to contain the spread of the virus. As is the case everywhere, one of the major hurdles in the fight is actually diagnosing individuals to begin with. While there are tests that can be used to determine this, there’s been much debate and speculation over how many, and access to them. This is where the new website is understood to be coming in as a way for concerned individuals to self-test from home.

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As reported by multiple outlets, including Reuters, Google's help was confirmed by President Trump during a press conference. The new website is part of a wider response to the spread of the virus, with the President explaining that Google has dedicated significant resources (including 1,700 engineers) to getting the website up and running as soon as possible. According to the President, the website is due to go live on Sunday, March 15. However, the Google communication team has since released a statement on Twitter further clarifying some of the finer details.

Google’s Coronavirus Screening Website Explained

Google’s statement explains the website is actually in development by Verily Life Sciences, along with some Google engineers who have offered to lend their support and expertise. Verily is a company owned by Alphabet (Google’s parent company) and is focused on the study of life sciences. While no firm date was provided, Google explained the website will initially go live in the Bay Area, with the expectation “of expanding more broadly over time.” As a result, access might be limited in the meantime.

When describing the new website, President Trump referred to it as a simple website, and this seems to be intentional to highlight its ease of use and ability to provide a quick indication on whether an individual is likely to be at risk, and in need of further help. Essentially, users will need to log-in to the website and then they will be asked to answer a number of questions related to how they are feeling. Depending on the sum total of those answers, the website will provide a simple yes/no answer regarding the symptoms described. If the answer is "no," then presumably nothing else needs to be done, and the individual can wait until they feel better. However, if the answer is “yes,” then the individual is likely to be showing symptoms related to coronavirus and may require further testing and assessment for a positive diagnosis. In this scenario, the individual will be able to visit one of the new ‘drive thru’ testing clinics, have their tests sent to a lab and then get their coronavirus results back again through the same website.

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Source: Reuters