Stunning visuals from Google show how the world reacted to Covid-19

Google's search data is a window into how humanity handles a crisis

The latest Google data from the US, UK, Singapore, and other major countries have been made into fascinating visuals that provide a window into how humanity reacts to a crisis. The data has shown us a picture of humanity as ever-evolving, adapting, curious and caring.

FIRST, WE ASKED WHAT IT WAS

As the crisis grew, so did our need for information, and we started with the basics. At first, global search trends showed people trying to find out what we were deadline with. People were asking “what is” and “how to”: "what is the coronavirus?", "what are the symptoms?" and "how to prepare for the virus?", and a little later, people started asking "how to make a face mask".

Image sourced from searchingcovid19.com

Image sourced from searchingcovid19.com

THEN, WE WANTED TO KNOW ITS IMPACT
As time went by, searches became more specific. We tried to understand both the economic and social impact it would have on our lives. By March 2020, top searches consisted of questions from, "how to get tested?" and "how to file for unemployment?" to "what is a pandemic?". 

Image sourced from searchingcovid19.com

Image sourced from searchingcovid19.com

NOW, IT'S PERSONAL
By April, people had begun to search for answers about our personal and social routines. How the coronavirus would affect our lives became the most pressing question:  we needed to adapt. We began flooding Google with questions such as "what is considered a fever?" and "how to make hand sanitizer?" to "how to use Zoom?".

Image sourced from searchingcovid19.com

 

Image sourced from searchingcovid19.com

HERE’S HOW WE REACTED
South Africans during the same time period were searching for  “Tiger”, no doubt as a result of the hit Netflix show Tiger King and “coronavirus news. But the top search term for South Africa during lockdown warmed our hearts: it was “thank you coronavirus helpers”. The data just confirms our suspicions that South Africa is in this together.

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From feeding schemes and homeless shelters, help support a host of charities. 

Cape Town is filled with a host of activities so you won’t get bored this weekend. 

Find out how the CITCC converted into a temporary hospital.

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