Google Maps Now Warns Users to Call Their Doctors Before Visiting Them

An anonymous reader quotes 9to5Google: A new warning message is appearing on medical-related searches and search listings on Google Maps. This message is brief, but encourages users who are searching for any sort of medical help to call their doctor before visiting the office if they suspect they are infected with COVID-19.

Clicking on that warning message brings users to the official CDC direction on the matter...

Notably, Google Maps is showing this COVID-19 warning on all platforms.

Re:

[Humbubba]

Google Maps Now Warns Users to Call Their Doctors Before Visiting Them

Wait. the Coronavirus has now spread to Google Maps?
The internet isn't safe anymore.
again.

Re:

[alexo]

Wait. the Coronavirus has now spread to Google Maps?

The internet isn't safe anymore.

again.

Of course it spread to the Internet.
What did you think the 'V' in VoIP stood for?

Re:

[Humbubba]

Of course it spread to the Internet.
What did you think the 'V' in VoIP stood for?

VPN too? I feel so Violated.

Shouldn't they first call their loan sharks?

[ffkom]

Given the expensiveness of Covid-19 treatments in the US [time.com], people might want to consider cheaper alternatives, such as budget coffin sales.

Re:

[nospam007]

" people might want to consider cheaper alternatives, such as budget coffin sales."

It's a pandemic, they are all burnt in their sealed bodybags, just as in the rest of the world.

Very sensible

[Antique Geekmeister]

Since some medical professionals are falling ill and have to recover, and since the tests for COVID-19 are _quite_ expensive in the USA, it makes sense for doctors to perform some light triage on who needs to see their doctor _right now_ and who just needs their prescriptions refilled.

Re:

[Humbubba]

There are official reasons they want people to wait before seeking medical help for the Coronavirus. But first, let's make this clear: the rich are getting tested:
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/03/coronavirus-testing-rich-people/608062/ [theatlantic.com]
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/03/rich-people-coronavirus [vanityfair.com]
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/3/18/1928719/-Let-them-eat-coronavirus-Trump-says-wealthy-getting-tested-first-is-just-the-story-of-life [dailykos.com]
https://ftw.usatoday.com/2020/03/coronavirus [usatoday.com]

I don't see it

[ddtmm]

I checked on my phone and computer. Didn't see any notices at all. Anyone else getting the notices?

UK

[MrL0G1C]

In the UK the gov't wants people to visit:
https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19/ [111.nhs.uk]
If they have the relevant symptoms like new dry cough, fever etc.

Symptoms breakdown:
https://www.webmd.com/lung/new... [webmd.com]

Only ring 111 or 999 if the person is sufficiently ill.

it's a good point

[superwiz]

I've been warning my parents to do the same. Even if they got a call, 2 days in advance, to confirm the appointment, they still should call to office on the day of the appointment to make sure they are opened. If an office closes on the day of the appointment due to exposure, you don't want to find that out when you try to enter the office.