ZURICH, May 18 (WNM/UBS Evidence Lab) - Google searches for COVID-19 have tended to increase or decrease ahead of changes in the number of daily reported cases. Search interest has lately been declining around the world.

Japan and Italy now have the highest interest, Hong Kong has among the lowest, and the US is in the middle.

Search interest in Japan began to increase in mid-March, followed by a rise in the daily case count. Both have fallen since mid-April.

Searches in Italy have been declining along with the number of daily cases.

Interest is still relatively high in Spain, India, and the UK, while it is low in South Korea, Austria, and Germany.