Scientists have named a way through which Google can predict where the coronavirus outbreak will occur even before it occurs. This is stated in a study published on the Massachusets General Hospital website.
For example, scientists noticed that search queries with the words “loss of gustatory sensitivity”, “loss of appetite” and “diarrhea” correlated with the query “coronavirus” in five states with a high incidence of COVID-19 (New York, New Jersey, California, Massachusetts and Illinois). Moreover, the strongest correlation was observed with a difference of three to four weeks between the increase in interest in these topics and the increase in the number of cases.
“Our data underscores the importance of gastrointestinal symptoms as potential precursors of COVID-19 infection and indicates that Google Trends can be a valuable tool in predicting pandemics,” the publication said.
Earlier it became known that Apple and Google have developed a technology for tracing contacts of persons who are infected with the new coronavirus. The companies have joined forces to help healthcare professionals. It is noted that they have created a technology that allows you to track patients' contacts using wireless Bluetooth.
