There has been a lot of news about COVID-19 (also known as the novel coronavirus) since it was first discovered in Wuhan, China, late last year. Since then, there have been thousands of confirmed cases in dozens of countries across the world. If you are concerned about the coronavirus, here are the best maps, apps, and websites to help you find the latest news and safety information from credible sources.
Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Map
The Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering recently developed an online map that lets you visually track the spread of the coronavirus in real-time. With this interactive map, you can find information about the number of existing cases, recoveries, and deaths in any country around the world.
The map shows data by provinces in China, by cities in the US, Australia, and Canada, and by countries everywhere else in the world. This map is automatically updated every 15 minutes for provinces in China. This data is obtained by DXY, the world’s largest online community of doctors, medical institutions, and other scientists.
For countries outside China, Johns Hopkins University says it manually updates the data “throughout the day when new cases are identified.” This data is obtained by international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and more.
Johns Hopkins University says that it thoroughly vets all the incoming data and confirms any new cases with local and regional health departments before posting it on their site.
You can use this interactive map on your desktop computer by visiting this site, or on your smartphone with the mobile version.
CDC App
If you want to the latest breaking news about the novel coronavirus in the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention app is one of the most reliable places to start. As part of the Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC is the nation’s leading national public health institute.
The CDC app is updated daily with any new cases, recoveries, and deaths in the US. You can also listen to media telebriefings to get the latest information from prominent experts in the field.
This app also has lots of other useful information about the coronavirus, including how it spreads, what you can do to keep yourself protected, and other frequently asked questions. And, if you are planning on traveling, make sure to check out the CDC travel health notices section first.
You can find this app on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for free. You can also access all of this information online by clicking this link (Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)).
WHO Website
If you are looking for trustworthy news sources about the coronavirus, you should look for sites that “have a mission to inform and protect the public,” according to Robert Shmerling, the faculty editor at Harvard Health Publishing. Specifically, Shmerling suggested looking at the myth busters page on the World Health Organization website.
The myth busters page on the WHO website breaks down the most common myths surrounding the virus that have been floating around social media sites. With this source, you can quickly find out if the stories you are reading on Facebook and Twitter have been debunked.
For example, the WHO says there is no danger in receiving mail from China because the virus does not survive that long on objects like letters and packages. You can also find other resources around the coronavirus, including videos on how to protect yourself, audio press briefings, travel advice, and more at WHO.int.
The WHO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that was formed to “act as the directing and coordinating authority on international health work.” And since it is made of up members from every UN member state, it is a great resource for credible news.
If you’re looking for other apps that can help you stay safe, check out our list of the best apps to have in case of an emergency here.