From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
MONTGOMERY – Alabamians can now obtain up-to-date information regarding the coronavirus pandemic in one location following Gov. Kay Ivey’s announcement on Thursday, April 9, that her office has launched a free COVID-19 search engine tool that enhances the state’s official resource site, altogetheralabama.org.
The platform will answer real-time questions regarding the virus, provide testing locations, unemployment, testing site locations, job seekers, small business support, volunteering information and more.
The platform can be accessed either through altogetheralabama.org or directly at covid19.alabama.gov.
“My priority as governor is making sure every Alabamian has the most accurate, up-to-date information about COVID-19, so we can keep our families safe,” Ivey said. “To help with this, we’ve partnered with our friends in the private sector, Yext, to build this search engine tool that works in conjunction with our official resource site Altogether Alabama.”
The platform comes with an embedded search engine that provides factual information regarding the virus. Anybody can type in a question about COVID-19 and receive results directing them to answers from local, state and federal partners.
“During a global crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, accurate answers can be a matter of life and death,” Howard Lerman, Founder and CEO of Yext, said. “With Yext Answers, we can help every government organization deliver that critical information and save as many lives as possible.”
The platform also includes live updates on the coronavirus impact in Alabama and gives people the opportunity to check symptoms through a portal to UAB.
“The information hub covid19.alabama.gov puts real-time, up-to-date information at the general public’s fingertips, including the latest health stats, a UAB-symptom checker, and test site locations,” Dr. Regina Benjamin, former U.S. Surgeon General of Bayou La Batre, said. “You can ask ‘Natural Language’ questions and be directed to answers from trusted sources such as the ADPH, CDC, and the Federation of American Scientists.”