Facebook’s Covid-19 announcement tool comes to India: Here’s what it does

Facebook has added the Covid-19 announcement tool for India that helps health departments across states and union territories share essential and timely Covid-19 updates. This tool is a part of Facebook’s ongoing effort to “support public health authorities’ work to keep people safe and informed”. This tool was first rolled out in the US and India is the second country to get it. Facebook has partnered with 33 states and union territories to roll the tool out in their respective jurisdictions.

This new tool gives health departments the ability to “push out timely, credible Covid-19 and vaccine information to people in their local communities/state jurisdictions. States will be able to issue these alerts statewide or to specific cities within their state”. Facebook explained in its announcement.

When posts by the state health department pages get marked on Facebook as Covid-19 announcements, their reach is amplified so as more people can see them. People in the affected areas will also be sent notifications and that same information will be shared on the Covid-19 Information Center.

Facebook’s Covid-19 announcements can be used to communicate information on existing Covid-19 resources like the helplines. Updates on hospital bed availability in districts (both ICU beds and oxygen-supported beds) can be shared through the announcement. Changes in existing Covid-19 rules and regulations that can impact day-to-day action like lockdowns, night curfews etc, and changes in treatment protocols can also be shared via these announcements.

Besides this, information on vaccine eligibility, registration, logistics of acquiring a vaccine, and preventive behavioural health measures can also be shared as information from valid handles on Facebook to be amplified as an announcement.