Change Management News WalkMe TeamUpdated March 18, 2020

Coronavirus Update Tips: How to Stay in the Know in Real-Time

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Coronavirus Update Tips: How to Stay in the Know in Real-Time

In this article on coronavirus update tips, we’ll discuss how to learn about coronavirus news in real-time.

In early 2020, the novel coronavirus strain took the world by storm, disrupting businesses, workflows, and daily routines for workers across the globe. 

From travel bans to telecommuting, coronavirus updates can have a massive impact on our daily lives.

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For that reason, it pays to stay prepared. 

Below, we will look at some of the most important ways to stay updated on the coronavirus.

Coronavirus Update Tips: How to Keep Up in Real-Time

Information is a must-have in today’s busy business world, but the online world is noisy and it can be difficult to filter out the signal from the noise.

Here are a few ways to keep news updates streaming in in real-time:

Stay tuned to news sources

The first place to go for coronavirus news is, of course, major news media, including:

Major media outlets. Major news outlets, from CNN to the BBC, are constantly covering the coronavirus outbreak. Most of them also have dedicated web pages that provide real-time updates on the outbreak. However, the larger the news outlet, the more general the news. This can pose a problem for those who want local coverage.

Local news outlets. Local news outlets, such as newspapers and TV stations, can provide more specific information on local coronavirus conditions. Since each country, state, and town will have its own set of circumstances, local news outlets are often best – at least for geographically specific news coverage.

For more specialized, detailed information, though, it pays to look elsewhere.

Get detailed information from specialized sources

For more specific information about the virus and authoritative statistics about the virus, head to major organizations, such as…

The WHO. The World Health Organization (WHO) is the international organization charged with managing the outbreak at the global level. The WHO’s website has a great deal of information about the current state of affairs, including a breakdown of statistics by country.

The CDC. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is an organization that can provide in-depth, up-to-date information about the coronavirus (technically, COVID-19). Their website provides information about the virus, the state of the outbreak, and information useful for Americans.

Data aggregators. Data aggregators collect data and then compile it into an easy-to-understand interface. There are a number of aggregators on the world wide web, including those dedicated to tracking the coronavirus.

Of course, exploring the sites listed so far can take time – and not everyone wants to spend their time sifting through information from so many sources.

Track coronavirus updates through social media

Social media users are constantly collecting and posting coronavirus updates.

This makes it easy to get up-to-date information without putting in much work. 

Useful sites include:

YouTube. YouTube streams news channels from around the globe, making it a useful news source. There are also plenty of experts, such as doctors, who post informative content about the coronavirus. 

Facebook. Facebook can also be very useful, since Facebook users are also constantly collecting and disseminating news stories about the coronavirus.

LinkedIn. Though LinkedIn is not the place for general news stories, it can be useful for coronavirus news that is business-related. Since the disruption caused the coronavirus has been so severe for many businesses, LinkedIn can be useful source for business information.

Twitter. One of the best social networks to explore is Twitter. Using tools such as Tweetdeck, it is possible to monitor multiple search terms, user accounts, or hashtags simultaneously. These are then updated in real-time – and since Twitter users are constantly scouring news sources, it is probably the most up-to-date source of any listed so far.

Tweaking social media notifications can help with real-time updates, especially when following accounts dedicated to providing coronavirus information.

However, there are ways to fine-tune results and notifications even further.

Get news automatically with the right automation tools

Automation tools can deliver coronavirus updates right to a desktop device, mobile device, email account, or cell phone.

The following services, for instance, can be used to collect updates automatically, then send filtered notifications:

Google Alerts. The Google Alert service tracks the web for updates to a specific search term, such as “coronavirus” or “COVID-19.” These are then delivered to email at a chosen interval. This is an excellent way to stay updated automatically, without having to manually perform searches.

IFTTT. IFTTT is an automation toolbox that can link various online services together, then perform actions based on specific triggers. For instance, if the trigger is a tweet from a specific user, then the action could be an email, a text message, or a smartphone notification.

Mobile Apps. Mobile apps can also be a useful way to receive news alerts automatically. Most news apps, for instance, can deliver notifications about top news stories – and most coronavirus news stories qualify as top news stories.

With the right digital tools – and the right sources – it is easy to get up-to-the-minute coronavirus updates without spending hours scouring websites or social media.

In today’s changing business landscape, techniques such as these can filter out noise and save a great deal of time, effort, and energy.

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