您(Did)知道您可以在WhatsApp上获取有关(WhatsApp)COVID-19的更新吗？在冠状病毒大流行(Coronavirus pandemic)期间，该应用程序通过连接个人和社区，使必要的社交距离变得更容易忍受。最近，一些国家和组织推出了WhatsApp 消息(WhatsApp messaging)服务，以努力让普通民众了解情况并提供可靠的数据。本文向您展示如何在WhatsApp上从多个来源获取有关COVID-19的更新：(COVID-19)
注意：(NOTE:)本教程说明了讲英语的人如何使用WhatsApp从世界卫生组织(World Health Organization)和英国、印度(India)、澳大利亚(Australia)、新西兰(New Zealand)、南非(South Africa)和新加坡政府获取有关(Singapore)COVID-19的官方信息。请记住，如果您是iPhone 或 iPad 用户(iPhone or iPad owner)，您首先需要在Android智能手机上从Google Play 商店安装(Google Play Store)WhatsApp ，或者从App Store获取。
(Get)使用世卫组织(WHO)的健康警报(Health Alert)获取全球冠状病毒(Coronavirus)更新
世界卫生组织(World Health Organization)率先推出了专门的消息服务(messaging service)，提供有关COVID-19的最新消息和信息(news and info)。世卫组织健康警报(WHO Health Alert)旨在回答公众的问题，每天 24 小时在全球范围内提供可靠的官方信息。(information worldwide)它目前有英文(English)、法文(French)、西班牙文(Spanish)、意大利文(Italian)、葡萄牙文(Portuguese)、印地文和阿拉伯文(Hindi and Arabic)版本，并带有WhatsApp计划在未来添加更多语言。该服务是免费的，就像一个聊天机器人，让您通过插入一个数字来选择您想要查看的数据。要使用英文版(English)WHO Health Alert，请从您的Android 智能手机或 iPhone(Android smartphone or iPhone)访问此链接(this link)，然后按发送(Send)按钮。
您应该被重定向到WhatsApp 应用程序(WhatsApp app)，其中会自动为您打开一个聊天窗口。(chat window)在频道上发送“hi”以查看所有可用选项。("hi")
对于在 PC 上使用WhatsApp的用户，只要您的设备上安装了WhatsApp 桌面版，您就可以毫无问题地访问(WhatsApp Desktop)英文版 Health Alert 的链接。(the link to the English version of Health Alert)如果您使用的是WhatsApp Web，您可以用来从 PC 访问聊天机器人的唯一浏览器是Microsoft Edge。首先(First)，在可让您“在 WhatsApp 上分享”("Share on WhatsApp)的(")首页上按发送(Send)。
提示：(TIP:)正如您可能从屏幕截图中注意到的那样，聊天机器人的编号并不总是相同的（很可能是为了避免服务器过载），但它总是在WhatsApp中显示为(WhatsApp)世界卫生组织(World Health Organization)。或者，您也可以将我们屏幕截图中的任何号码添加到您的手机联系人中，并相应地向他们发送消息，以接收有关COVID-19的相关数据。
然后， Microsoft Edge(Microsoft Edge)为您提供“使用 WhatsApp Web ("use WhatsApp Web)” 的选项。单击(Click)或点击它以继续，WhatsApp Web将在新选项卡中打开，您可以在其中选择向聊天机器人发送消息。
要以其他可用语言之一使用Health Alert ，您可以(Health Alert)在 WHO 网站上查看其页面(its page on WHO's website)，访问相应的链接，然后用该语言说“嗨”。目前，您可以访问法语(French)、西班牙语(Spanish)、意大利语(Italian)、葡萄牙语(Portuguese)、印地语和阿拉伯语(Hindi and Arabic)的聊天机器人，但该页面应在可用时立即更新以包含更多语言。
通过GOV.UK 冠状病毒信息服务(GOV.UK Coronavirus Information Service)获取英国的 COVID-19(COVID-19)更新
英国政府(UK Government)在WhatsApp上推出了GOV.UK 冠状病毒信息服务(GOV.UK Coronavirus Information Service)。就像(Just)WHO的Health Alert一样，它是一个自动聊天机器人，可根据您的输入提供您请求的数据。GOV.UK 服务(GOV.UK service)是免费的，英国公众可以随时使用它来获取有关COVID-19 大流行的(COVID-19 pandemic)官方(access official)建议和信息(advice and info)，从而帮助打击英国最近的错误信息浪潮。除了政府(Government)提供的相关指导外，它还提供了指向相关GOV UK 和 NHS 页面(GOV UK and NHS pages)的有用链接。
要使用该服务，请将号码07860 064 422添加到您的手机联系人中，然后向其发送一条带有文本“hi ”的(")WhatsApp 消息(WhatsApp message)。对于国际用户，该号码是+44 7860 064 422。
GOV.UK 冠状病毒信息服务应减轻(GOV.UK Coronavirus Information Service)NHS服务的负担，帮助英国公众获得有关COVID-19 大流行(COVID-19 pandemic)的最常见问题的答案。
(Get)通过MyGov Corona Helpdesk获取印度(India)的官方COVID-19更新
印度政府(Government)还与WhatsApp合作推出了一个名为MyGov (India)Corona Helpdesk的(MyGov Corona Helpdesk)聊天(WhatsApp)机器人，旨在阻止错误信息的传播，并将有关该流行病的可靠官方数据和更新信息交到公众手中。印度(India)的官方聊天机器人目前比本文中的其他聊天机器人更先进，因为它除了提供用户可以选择主题的菜单之外，还可以直接回答问题。要访问它，请将号码(+91) 90 131 51515在您的手机通讯录中，然后在WhatsApp上通过消息将您的问题发送给它。
正如您在上面看到的，一些信息带有额外的链接，旨在教印度公众如何保持安全。
您还可以发送菜单(Menu)以了解聊天机器人必须提供的内容。
正如您在上面看到的，聊天机器人还支持印地语(Hindi)，您还可以访问特定状态的聊天机器人。
从澳大利亚政府获取 COVID-19 更新
除了专门的应用程序和远程医疗服务(app and telehealth services)外，居住在澳大利亚的(Australia)人们还可以从政府(Government)为应对COVID-19 大流行(COVID-19 pandemic)而设立的官方WhatsApp 小组(WhatsApp group)中受益。与本文中的其他基本聊天机器人一样，澳大利亚(Australia)的新WhatsApp 消息传递(WhatsApp messaging)服务会根据用户的输入迅速返回有关冠状病毒的准确和相关信息。(Coronavirus)它可以帮助您获得基本的健康建议，了解(health advice)澳大利亚(Australia)的现状，以及州和联邦政府正在采取的措施的更新，同时还提供了指向SBS和政府(Government)网站的有用链接。要访问聊天机器人，请从您的智能手机浏览器访问aus.gov.au/whatsapp然后按(browser and press) 发送(Send)。
提示：(TIP:)或者，您也可以将号码 ( +61) 400 253 787添加到您的手机联系人中，并向其发送消息以从聊天机器人获取相关信息。
WhatsApp打开，该服务会提示您插入数字或表情符号(number or emoji)，以便选择您想要查看的数据。按照屏幕上的说明进行操作，您需要的信息会立即返回。
通过 Govt.NZ获取(Get)新西兰(New Zealand)的官方COVID (Govt.NZ)-19(COVID-19)更新
新西兰(New Zealand)计划保持领先，并于本周早些时候推出了一个名为Govt.NZ的政府(Govt.NZ)WhatsApp 频道。(WhatsApp channel)免费服务允许您在COVID-19 大流行(COVID-19 pandemic)期间访问相关官方信息，以帮助您保护自己和家人。Govt.NZ为公众、企业和医疗保健提供者提供可靠的数据和新闻。如果您居住在新西兰(New Zealand)，请在您的移动设备上访问covid19.govt.nz/whatsapp，然后按发送(Send)。
WhatsApp启动，您自动加入政府频道(government channel)。在这里，您可以按照屏幕上的说明访问您感兴趣的信息，从更新到冠状病毒(Coronavirus)症状。您还可以了解有关新西兰(New Zealand)社交媒体活动#BeKindNZ的更多信息。键入您想要的信息旁边的数字，然后按发送(Send)以返回相关数据。
目前，聊天机器人有英文版(English)，但几天后应该会添加毛利语(Maori)、萨摩亚语(Samoan)、汤加(Tongan)语、普通话(Mandarin)和印地语版本。(Hindi)库克岛毛利语(Cook Island Maori)和斐济语计划随后发布。
(Get Coronavirus)通过Contact NDoH获取(Contact NDoH)南非的(South Africa)冠状病毒更新
南非(South Africa)是第一个推出WhatsApp 聊天机器人(WhatsApp chatbot)的国家，它代表了世卫组织(WHO)健康警报的(Health Alert)起点(starting point)。该倡议的目标是通过帮助南非(South Africa)公众免费获取有关该流行病的建议(access advice)和最新信息，同时揭穿有关该病毒的神话，从而使公众了解情况。要访问该频道，请在您的手机通讯录中添加号码(+27) 060 012 3456并在WhatsApp上发送(WhatsApp)Hi。正如您在下面看到的，该服务以五种语言提供有关COVID-19的免费自动回复，您可以随时更改。
您可以插入单词以接收有关某个主题的更多信息，范围从病例(Cases)和新闻(News)到症状(Symptoms)、神话(Myths)等。这些信息应该可以帮助您和您的亲人度过这些困难时期。只需按照屏幕上的说明浏览可用数据并找到您要查找的内容。
使用Gov.sg WhatsApp 服务(Gov.sg WhatsApp service)获取新加坡的(Singapore)COVID-19更新
在率先推出COVID-19 WhatsApp 服务(COVID-19 WhatsApp service)的国家中，新加坡允许公众注册以获取有关(Singapore)冠状病毒大流行(Coronavirus pandemic)的最新消息。您从该服务收到的信息包括主要(Key) 政府(Government)公告、病例数量和所采取措施的最新信息，以及对有关病毒传播的谣言和错误信息的澄清。如果您是新加坡公民，您可以通过在(Singapore)go.gov.sg/Whatsapp上注册来订阅更新。填写(Fill)表格以获取更多信息。
该服务有四种语言版本。您可以选择其中的一种或多种，系统会以所选语言向您发送更新。完成选择后，按提交(Submit)订阅，您应该会收到一条消息，确认您已成功注册。
提示：(TIP:)如果您居住在美国，您可能没有专门的WhatsApp 频道(WhatsApp channel)，但还有很多其他地方可以获取COVID-19更新，如 5 个在美国获取COVID-19实时更新的地方所示。对于非美国英语使用者，本文中的大多数网站也提供(article offer information)其他领域的信息，因此请随时查看。
您知道在WhatsApp上获取(WhatsApp)COVID-19更新的其他方法吗？
我们将这篇文章与目前对讲英语的公众可用的官方WhatsApp频道放在一起。(WhatsApp)值得一提的是，WhatsApp还推出了冠状病毒信息中心(Coronavirus Information Hub)，以帮助用户访问可靠的信息和更新(information and updates)。随着事情的发展，我们预计会有更多国家转向技术，以便让公众了解情况。如果您知道我们可以添加到本文中的新聊天机器人，请在评论中告诉我们。
How to get updates about COVID-19 on WhatsApp
Did you know that you can get updаtes about COVID-19 on WhatsApp? During the Coronavirυs pandemic, thе app has been making the neсessary social distancing more bearable by cоnnecting both individuаls and communities. Recently, several countries and organizations launched WhаtsApp meѕѕaging services, in an effort to keep the general population informed and provide reliable data. This article shоws you how to get updates about CОVID-19 on WhatsApp from several soυrces:
NOTE: This tutorial illustrates how English speakers can use WhatsApp to get official info on COVID-19 from the World Health Organization and the Governments of the UK, India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Singapore. Keep in mind that you first need to install WhatsApp from the Google Play Store on Android smartphones or get it from the App Store, if you're an iPhone or iPad owner.
Get worldwide Coronavirus updates using WHO's Health Alert
The World Health Organization has been among the first to launch a dedicated messaging service that offers the latest news and info on COVID-19. Designed to answer questions from the public, the WHO Health Alert provides reliable and official information worldwide, 24 hours a day. It is currently available in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Hindi and Arabic, with WhatsApp planning to add more languages in the future. The service is free and acts like a chatbot, letting you choose the data you want to see by inserting a number. To use WHO Health Alert in English, access this link from your Android smartphone or iPhone, and then press the Send button.
You should be redirected to the WhatsApp app, where a chat window is automatically opened for you. Send "hi" on the channel to see all the available options.
For those using WhatsApp on PC, you can access the link to the English version of Health Alert with no problems as long as you have WhatsApp Desktop installed on your device. If you're using WhatsApp Web, the only browser you can use to access a chatbot from your PC is Microsoft Edge. First, press Send on the first page that lets you "Share on WhatsApp."
TIP: As you may have noticed from the screenshots, the number for the chatbot is not always the same (most probably to avoid server overload), but it is always shown as World Health Organization in WhatsApp. Alternatively, you can also add any of the numbers in our screenshots to your phone contacts and message them accordingly to receive the relevant data about COVID-19.
Microsoft Edge then gives you the option to "use WhatsApp Web." Click or tap on it to continue, and WhatsApp Web opens in a new tab, where you get the option to message a chatbot.
To use Health Alert in one of the other languages available, you can check out its page on WHO's website, access the appropriate link, and say "hi" in that language. For now, you can access a chatbot for French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Hindi and Arabic, but the page should be updated to include more languages as soon as they become available.
Get COVID-19 updates for the UK with GOV.UK Coronavirus Information Service
The UK Government launched a GOV.UK Coronavirus Information Service on WhatsApp. Just like WHO's Health Alert, it is an automated chatbot that provides the data you are requesting based on your inputs. The GOV.UK service is free, and the British public can use it at any time to access official advice and info about the COVID-19 pandemic, thus helping with the combat against the recent wave of misinformation in the UK. On top of relevant guidance from the Government, it also provides useful links towards pertinent GOV UK and NHS pages.
To use the service, add the number 07860 064 422 to your phone contacts, and then send it a WhatsApp message with the text "hi." For international users, the number is +44 7860 064 422.
The GOV.UK Coronavirus Information Service should reduce the burden placed on NHS services, helping the British public get answers to the most common questions about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Get official COVID-19 updates for India with MyGov Corona Helpdesk
The Indian Government also teamed up with WhatsApp to launch a chatbot called MyGov Corona Helpdesk, designed to stop the spread of misinformation and put reliable official data and updates about the epidemic in the hands of the public. India's official chatbot is currently more advanced than the others in this article, because it also answers direct questions, on top of providing a menu where users can choose a topic. To access it, save the number (+91) 90 131 51515 in your phone contacts, and then send it your question in a message on WhatsApp.
As you can see above, some of the info comes with additional links meant to teach the Indian public how to stay safe.
You can also send Menu to get an overview of what the chatbot has to offer.
As you can see above, the chatbot also supports Hindi, and you can also get access to state-specific chatbots.
Get COVID-19 updates from the Australian Government
In addition to a dedicated app and telehealth services, people living in Australia can also benefit from an official WhatsApp group set up by their Government to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Like the other basic chatbots in this article, Australia's new WhatsApp messaging service returns accurate and relevant information about the Coronavirus promptly, based on the user's inputs. It can assist you in getting basic health advice, an overview of the current situation in Australia, as well as updates on the measures that are being put in place by state and federal governments, while also providing helpful links towards the SBS and the Government websites. To access the chatbot, go to aus.gov.au/whatsapp from your smartphone's browser and press Send.
TIP: Alternatively, you can also add the number (+61) 400 253 787 into your phone contacts and send it a message to get relevant information from the chatbot.
WhatsApp opens, and the service prompts you to insert a number or emoji in order to choose the data you want to see. Follow the instructions on the screen, and the information you need is immediately returned.
Get official COVID-19 updates for New Zealand with Govt.NZ
New Zealand plans to stay ahead of the curve and launched a government WhatsApp channel called Govt.NZ earlier this week. The free service allows you to access relevant official info during the COVID-19 pandemic to help you protect yourself and your family. Govt.NZ offers reliable data and news for the public, businesses, and healthcare providers. If you're living in New Zealand, access covid19.govt.nz/whatsapp on your mobile device and press Send.
WhatsApp launches, and you automatically join the government channel. Here, you can follow the instructions on the screen to access the info that interests you, ranging from updates to Coronavirus symptoms. You can also learn more about New Zealand's social media campaign #BeKindNZ. Type the number adjacent to the info you want and press Send for the relevant data to be returned.
Currently, the chatbot is available in English, but Maori, Samoan, Tongan, Mandarin, and Hindi versions should be added in a few days. Cook Island Maori and Fijian languages are planned for a subsequent release.
Get Coronavirus updates for South Africa with Contact NDoH
South Africa was the first to launch a WhatsApp chatbot, and it represents the starting point for WHO's Health Alert. The goal of the initiative is to keep the South African public informed by helping them access advice and updates about the epidemic free of charge, while also debunking myths about the virus. To access the channel, add the number (+27) 060 012 3456 in your phone contacts and send Hi on WhatsApp. As you can see below, the service delivers free automated responses about COVID-19 in five languages, that you can change at any time.
You can insert words to receive more information on a subject, ranging from Cases and News to Symptoms, Myths, and more. The info should help you and your loved ones get through these difficult times. Just follow the instructions on the screen to navigate the available data and find what you're looking for.
Get COVID-19 updates for Singapore with the Gov.sg WhatsApp service
Among the first to launch a COVID-19 WhatsApp service, Singapore allows the public to sign up for updates about the Coronavirus pandemic. The info you receive from the service includes Key Government announcements, updates on the number of cases and the measures taken, as well as clarifications on the rumors and misinformation circulating about the virus. If you're a citizen of Singapore, you can subscribe to updates by registering at go.gov.sg/Whatsapp. Fill in the form to access more information.
The service is available in four languages. You can choose one or more of them, and the system sends you updates in the selected language(s). When you are done making your choices, press Submit to subscribe, and you should receive a message to acknowledge you signed up successfully.
TIP: If you're living in the US, you may not have a dedicated WhatsApp channel, but there are plenty of other places for COVID-19 updates, as illustrated in 5 places to get live updates for COVID-19 in the US. For non-US English speakers, most of the sites in the article offer information for other areas also, so feel free to also take a look.
Do you know of other ways to get COVID-19 updates on WhatsApp?
We put together this article with the official WhatsApp channels currently available to the English-speaking public. It is worth mentioning that WhatsApp also rolled out a Coronavirus Information Hub to help users access reliable information and updates. As things progress, we expect more countries to turn to technology in order to keep the general public informed. If you know of a new chatbot we can add to this article, please let us know in a comment.
