As the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the United States soars, Google has launched a new website that will serve as an information portal for those seeking information and help And Google's search experience has also been upgraded

As Google outlines in a blog post about the new COVID-19 portal, the disease is "the biggest topic people are looking for globally" As a result, Google has rolled out a website dedicated to help and resources

Visit googlecom/covid-19 to see information "focused on education, prevention, and community resources" The site will first be launched in the US and will be available in more languages and countries in the future

The site has a roomy, easy-to-read interface with lists of "Health Information," "Safety and Prevention Tips," "Data and Insights," and "Resources and Assistance" on the left side There are also links to assist with relief efforts

Under Safety and Prevention Tips, there is a Do the Five graphic with tips on washing hands frequently, coughing on your elbows, and staying home as much as possible There are also helpful videos on topics such as "10 Things You Can Do to Manage COVID-19 at Home" by the CDC There is also a video by the World Health Organization on how to protect yourself from COVID-19

Google's COVID-19 page also includes general searches related to coronavirus, such as what is remote work and social distance Then there is a map of coronaviruses, showing the number of confirmed cases, recoveries, and deaths As of this writing, there have been 282,395 coronavirus cases and 11,822 deaths worldwide, with 19,843 cases in the United States

To help people cope with the coronavirus pandemic, Google lists several resources, including videos on a wide range of topics These include videos on how to cope with stress, pantry meal tips, home exercise videos, etc

A "Search US Resources" tool on Google's site may be more helpful It just shows a drop-down menu of states Clicking on a state will bring up a quick link to that state's Department of Health This is helpful, but a list of COVID-19 drive-through inspection locations by state would be appreciated

This effort is quite different from what Google's parent company, Alphabet, is doing with Project Baseline by verily

Google has also upgraded its search experience regarding COVID-19 The company is offering "easy access to authoritative information from health authorities, along with new data and visualizations"

For example, a search for coronavirus will show a dedicated box labeled COVID-19 Alert with tabs for overview, symptoms, prevention, and treatment This should help those looking for information quickly

In addition, Twitter accounts of local civic groups and health authorities, as well as sources from the CDC and WHO will be displayed

Given the amount of misinformation surrounding the coronavirus, Google's efforts here are a very good start