The recent study, which was published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings, analyzed Google web searches to find a link between certain keywords and coronavirus outbreaks across the U.S. The Mayo Clinic researchers used Google Trends data from Jan. 22 to April 6 to see which search terms were more popular ahead of an area’s outbreak. They found that there was a distinct correlation between an increase in searches for certain terms that preceded initial outbreaks by about 16 days. “Our study demonstrates that there is information present in Google Trends that precedes outbreaks, and with predictive analysis, this data can be used for better allocating resources with regards to testing, personal protective equipment, medications and more,” study author Mohamad Bydon, MD, a Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon, said in a statement. “Looking at Google Trends data, we found that we were able to identify predictors of hot spots, using keywords, that would emerge over a six-week timeline.” Even now, “COVID symptoms” is a highly searched term in five states—Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, and Rhode Island—all of which are starting to see their case counts climb. Want to know which terms are able to predict the arrival of coronavirus? Read on to find out, and for more on places that are starting to take things seriously, here are The States That Are Showing the First Signs of Another Lockdown. ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb And for another tell-tale sign you have the virus, check out If You Can’t Taste These 2 Things, You May Have COVID.
