Big Tech Tries to Help the U.S. Narrow the Virus Testing Gap
Initial efforts have been slow and shaky.
White House officials hope Verily’s digital effort can backstop struggling analog testing facilities.
Photographer: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
When President Donald Trump finally addressed the nation’s dire shortage of testing capabilities for the coronavirus on March 13, he did what many people do when they seek answers: He turned to Google. But Trump’s announcement that the Alphabet Inc. unit would be harnessing 1,700 engineers to build a national website to screen people for symptoms, and if necessary direct them to a nearby testing site, was overly optimistic. Google is rushing to rise to the occasion.
Across Silicon Valley, tech companies big and small are stepping up to help in any way they can. Amazon.com Inc. is prioritizing shipments of medical supplies and household staples and plans to hire 100,000 workers to help speed those orders. Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter, YouTube, and others have pledged to work with one another and alongside government agencies to stop the spread of misinformation about the virus.