Google Searches for “Anxiety” Reach 16-year High

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2020 has been a year of change and uncertainty thanks to the coronavirus pandemic – and as COVID cases continue to rise across the country it appears people are experiencing increased levels of anxiety.
According to Business Insider, DataTrek reported Google searches for “anxiety” have reached a 16-year peak.
“As cases and hospitalizations reach new records, Americans searched for “anxiety” last week more than they have throughout the pandemic yet. In fact, queries for “anxiety” are at a 16-year peak since the start of the series in 2004,” DataTrek co-founder Jessica Rabe said in a note reported by Business Insider.
DataTrek also found Americans have been less likely to go shopping and eat out this year with searches for “mall” and “restaurants” falling by a quarter in the last couple of weeks. They are not far off levels seen at the beginning of the pandemic in March and April.
“We expect the accelerating decline in searches for “restaurant” and “mall” to continue as the weather cools and virus cases mount. Restaurants face a difficult winter ahead with limited indoor seating, which will impact overall employment trends in the coming months,” Rabe said in a statement reported by Business Insider.