24/03/2020
World Health Organization launches COVID-19 information service on WhatsApp
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a chatbot on WhatsApp to provide information on the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic sweeping the planet.
To interact with it, users will need to message the WHO account on +41 79 475 22 09 and send the word 'Hi' to begin chatting, after which, a list of prompts is returned to the user to access official information about the virus.
Information used will be updated daily and at this stage is only available in English. Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish are to follow in "coming weeks".
"Digital technology gives us an unprecedented opportunity for vital health information to go viral and spread faster than the pandemic, helping us save lives and protect the vulnerable," director-general of WHO Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.