Google stepping up Covid response efforts

Tech major is providing financial backing for affected communities, health authorities and non-profit organisations in India

Hyderabad: Google is working with hospitals, non-profits, and public health service providers across the country. The company is focused on ensuring that people get access to the latest and reliable information, amplifying vital safety and vaccination messages and providing financial backing for affected communities, health authorities and other organisations.

Since the second wave began, Google has been running an internal donation campaign to raise funds for non-profit organisations, including GiveIndia, Charities Aid Foundation India, Goonj, and United Way of Mumbai. This campaign has raised over $4.6 million (Rs 33 crore) to date and continues to generate support for relief efforts.

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On all its platforms, Google said, it is taking steps to surface the critical information families and communities need to care for their own health and look after others. Searches on the Covid-19 vaccine displays key information on side effects, effectiveness, and registration details, while treatment-related queries surface guidance from ministry resources.

One can find information on Google Search about prevention, self-care, and treatment under the Prevention and Treatment tab, sourced from authorised medical sources and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

In addition to showing 2,500 testing centres on Search and Maps, Google is now sharing the locations of over 23,000 vaccination centres nationwide, in English and eight Indian languages.

Google said, “We know that some of the most crucial information people are searching for is the availability of hospital beds and access to medical oxygen. To help them find answers more easily, we are testing a new feature using the Q&A function in Maps that enables people to ask about and share local information on availability of beds and medical oxygen in select locations.”

“As this will be user generated content and not provided by authorised sources, it may be required to verify the accuracy and freshness of the information before utilising it,” Google added.

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