Online searching on Covid-19 increased in February 2020 all over the world starting in China. People prefer to check on their symptoms on the internet rather than seeing their doctor. The usage of internet is increased dramatically. People only use credible sources of information about Covid-19 in order to avoid any misinformation and fake news. Other platforms such as social media also become an important tool for people to search the information on Covid-19. In the United Kingdom, people watch BBC News more frequently. This happened in the United Kingdom and Australia. For example, Indonesia recorded the increase of 50% viewers on television as their primary source of information on Covid-19. People are trying to understand the virus by seeking information from a variety of sources, including commercial media and the internet. The results will improve the understanding of public need during this outbreak. The results from this study will improve the understanding of the searching trends for affected populations in order to monitor public searching activities toward Covid-19. In order to achieve this aim, we evaluate information on Covid-19 using Google Trends. The aim of this paper is to understand public engagement in searching information on Covid-19. In digital world, it is likely that online searching play an even more important role during the post-pandemic world. This is to understand the need of the public during the outbreak.
At the same time, media such as social media and commercial news must be utilized in order for information to be regularly updated. Therefore, information needs to be cleared and easy to understand. It is important to manage information from the internet to reduce erroneous information that gives rise on misinformation. However, the number of massive information could lead to panic that impact on the public wellbeing. Most of the information that has been searched focus on public health. The term infodemiological such as an online searching activities on Google are widely used to understand the searching behaviors. Nowadays, the Covid-19 infodemic is getting more attention by researchers.
At the same time, people search the information on Covid-19 to understand the current situation before they could come out with any decision such as what Standard of Procedure (SOP) need to be followed, the way the virus could be spreaded, information on the symptoms or the information on the new variant of the Covid-19. People rely on information in order to feel safer. As a result, issue such as misleading information is very difficult to handle. Until March 31, 2021, Malaysia recorded 572,357 total cases with 79,523 active cases with 2,779 total death cases reported by Ministry of Health Malaysia ( ). This massive change also reflects the online behavior among Malaysian when searching the information on Covid-19. In Malaysia, the spread of Covid-19 has cause a massive change in term of daily life and activity. The infodemic is caused by high volume of information that supply variety number of information based on current demand of information about Covid-19. This is because there is not enough attention to fully understand the issue of infodemic. Previous evidence suggests that the internet could expand the issue of infodemic that might cause exaggerated panic among public. In relation to the spread of Covid-19, a massive infodemic spread virally over the world can result to many issues. The lockdown force people in switching from face-to-face interactions to the digital interaction. As a result, a massive information epidemic has become another challenge to fight against Covid-19. At the same time, the need to obtain information about the disease and its prevention has also become important. In order to maintain physical distancing, many of us have to work from home in order to stop the spread of the Covid-19. Covid-19 has impacts many people in their daily life, which includes going to work and socializing.
They rely on the internet for work and communication. In early 2020, people all over the world are compelled to stay at home because of the outbreak pandemic. Since then, millions of people use internet to search for information on Covid-19. In November 2019, coronavirus disease of 2019 (Covid-19) has become a global pandemic.
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