Google developed its own COVID-19 database that can efficiently track new variants of the novel coronavirus and tell if a person's immunity will last long. Google's innovation is expected to help medical experts, especially epidemiologists. 

According to Nature's latest report, the new Google-funded is very different from the global COVID-19 dashboard, managed and maintained by Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Why? Because the new database called "Global.health" collects an unprecedented amount of anonymized information about individual cases in one location. 

"Global.health is the first of its kind, easy-to-use global data repository and visualization platform that enables open access to real-time epidemiological anonymized line-list data," said Google via Global Health's official website

How the new Google COVID-19 platform works

The new Google-funded database includes around 40 associated variables of each individual in the platform. The database contains information such as travel history, the date they received a positive coronavirus report, and the date when their first COVID-19 symptoms appeared. 

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These data points allow epidemiologists and other medical experts to know how the new COVID-19 variants spread across locations. 

"By the time we understand the gravity of an outbreak, it's often too late. Data can close that loop and make the process faster," said Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins who is also involved in the development of the new Google-funded COVID-19 databases.

How Google's innovation will help epidemiologists

Epidemiologists collect and organize bits of information provided by newspaper articles or health agencies when an outbreak happens. The published data include the virus's contagiousness, mortality rate, patient's age, person's symptoms, and more. 

However, recording the required data might be hard if they'll base it on newspaper articles. With the new Google-funded COVID-19 database, all they need to do is create an account and search for the location they want to study. 

For more news updates about Google's new platform and other COVID-19 innovations, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.  

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Written by: Giuliano de Leon.

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