New WhatsApp ‘coronavirus chatbot’ launched by UK government – and anyone can add it to contacts
A NEW coronavirus information service created by the UK government has launched on WhatsApp.
Brits simply need to add a phone number into their contacts to access a range of advice, alerts and official info.
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The government said the new "chatbot" is designed to "combat the spread of coronavirus misinformation".
And it's also intended to help ensure people stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.
To use the service, simply add 07860 064422 into your phone contacts.
Then just message the word "hi" in a WhatsApp message to launch the chatbot.
"This service will help us ensure the public has a trusted source for the right information about coronavirus, updated with the latest public health guidance and providing assurance that they are not misled by any of the false information circulating," said Professor Yvonne Doyle, of Public Health England.
Anyone can talk to the chatbot for free, and get official advice direct from the government.
It would explain coronavirus prevention and symptoms, and give updates on the latest number of cases in the UK.
You'll also get advice on staying at home, travel advice and myth-busting too.
And the service will let the Government send alerts to all opted-in users, if it needs to.
Matt Idema, Chief Operating Officer, WhatsApp, said: "At difficult times like these, people are using WhatsApp more than ever to connect with and support their friends, family and communities," explained Matt Idema, the Chief Operating Office at WhatsApp.
"We are pleased to be able to provide the UK Government with the communications tools to help them answer the public’s questions about the virus with reliable, timely health advice, in order to keep people safe."
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WhatsApp recently donated $1million to fight fake news around the coronavirus crisis.
The Facebook-owned chat app is handing the cash to the Poynter Insitute's International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN).
The IFCN supports more than 100 local organisations in at least 45 countries.
They act as a resource for debunking fake news – and clarifying when viral stories are genuinely true, an outright lie, or somewhere in between.
Facebook's chat app has also set up the WhatsApp Coronavirus Information Hub, which you can find .
It's intended to provide simple guidance for health workers, educators, community leaders, businesses and other organisations that use WhatsApp to communicate.
It also offers general tips and resources for users to help reduce the spread of rumours.
"We know that our users are reaching out on WhatsApp more than ever at this time of crisis, whether it’s to friends and loved ones, doctors to patients, or teachers to students," said Will Cathcart, Head of WhatsApp.
"We wanted to provide a simple resource that can help connect people at this time.
"We are also pleased to be able to partner with the Poynter Institute to help grow the amount of fact-checking organizations on WhatsApp and to support their life saving work to debunk rumours.
"We will also continue to work directly with health ministries around the world for them to provide updates right within WhatsApp."
Tech giants have come under increasing pressure to help tackle the coronavirus crisis.
Last week, Facebook announced that it would give away $100million to help small businesses survive the outbreak.
The money will be shared across 30,000 organisations in more than 30 countries where Facebook employees live and work.
Some of the fund will be delivered directly as cash grants.
And some of it will be provided as advertising credits to use on Facebook's gargantuan ad platform.
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