Abstract

BackgroundIn the absence of vaccines and established treatments, nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are fundamental tools to control coronavirus disease (COVID-19) transmission. NPIs require public interest to be successful. In the United States, there is a lack of published research on the factors that influence public interest in COVID-19. Using Google Trends, we examined the US level of public interest in COVID-19 and how it correlated to testing and with other countries.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine how public interest in COVID-19 in the United States changed over time and the key factors that drove this change, such as testing. US public interest in COVID-19 was compared to that in countries that have been more successful in their containment and mitigation strategies.MethodsIn this retrospective study, Google Trends was used to analyze the volume of internet searches within the United States relating to COVID-19, focusing on dates between December 31, 2019, and March 24, 2020. The volume of internet searches related to COVID-19 was compared to that in other countries.ResultsThroughout January and February 2020, there was limited search interest in COVID-19 within the United States. Interest declined for the first 21 days of February. A similar decline was seen in geographical regions that were later found to be experiencing undetected community transmission in February. Between March 9 and March 12, 2020, there was a rapid rise in search interest. This rise in search interest was positively correlated with the rise of positive tests for SARS-CoV-2 (6.3, 95% CI −2.9 to 9.7; P<.001). Within the United States, it took 52 days for search interest to rise substantially after the first positive case; in countries with more successful outbreak control, search interest rose in less than 15 days.ConclusionsContainment and mitigation strategies require public interest to be successful. The initial level of COVID-19 public interest in the United States was limited and even decreased during a time when containment and mitigation strategies were being established. A lack of public interest in COVID-19 existed in the United States when containment and mitigation policies were in place. Based on our analysis, it is clear that US policy makers need to develop novel methods of communicating COVID-19 public health initiatives.

Highlights

  • Over the past 20 years, two pathologic human coronaviruses (HCoVs) emerged that cause significant morbidity and mortality: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

  • In this retrospective study, Google Trends was used to analyze the volume of internet searches within the United States relating to COVID-19, focusing on dates between December 31, 2019, and March 24, 2020

  • A lack of public interest in COVID-19 existed in the United States when containment and mitigation policies were in place

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Summary

Introduction

Over the past 20 years, two pathologic human coronaviruses (HCoVs) emerged that cause significant morbidity and mortality: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). In December 2019, another pathologic HCoV, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), https://publichealth.jmir.org/2020/3/e19969 XSLFO RenderX. During the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic in 2003, 8098 cases and 774 deaths were reported. SARS was brought under control in 8 months through syndromic surveillance, prompt isolation of patients, strict quarantine, and community-level quarantine. In just 3 months, COVID-19 resulted in more than 2800 deaths and 82000 confirmed cases, and more than 46 countries were affected [4]. Using Google Trends, we examined the US level of public interest in COVID-19 and how it correlated to testing and with other countries

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