Using Google Maps can help you learn about the COVID-19 case trends of a place before you pack your bags for a visit.
The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a new normal that everyone needs to observe to steer clear away from the coronavirus infection. Google Maps can help you in this aspect by making you aware of COVID-19 case trends in a particular location before you actually pack your bags and travel to the place.
During the early days of the pandemic, Google added several useful resources on how to get around different places amid the health crisis. A new Google Maps layer was put in place to display the latest COVID-19 case trends in a specific area to allow you to make more informed decisions.
According to Google, the new feature includes having Google Maps prompt users on how to view the current COVID-19 case trends. It will alert users on how they can "See COVID-19 info" when tapping the icon for layers. Under the "Map details" item, you will see a new overlay with a red-colored warning icon.
Tapping this icon will display a "seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people for the area of the map you are looking at." The view has different themes complete with color-coding so users can "easily distinguish the density of new COVID-19 cases" and also separate each section geographically. With the new feature, Google Maps can help users learn the COVID-19 case trends of that place and also inform them whether the cases are trending up or down.
The data used by Google Maps to show COVID-19 case trends of a particular place come from various sources, which include Johns Hopkins, the New York Times, and many other authoritative sources. According to Google, these sources get their data from public health bodies like the World Health Organization, government health agencies or ministries, as well as state and local health departments and hospitals. The trending case data is visible at the country level for the more than 200 countries and territories supported by Google Maps. It also covers data from state or province, county, and at the city level.
Google announced that the Google Maps COVID-19 feature is rolling out on Android and iOS devices this week. The giant search engine and tech company said that some of the information available on Google Maps showing COVID-19 case trends of a particular place is actually available on Google Search. The company just expanded and made it an additional feature for Google Maps.
The company believes that with Google Maps showing COVID-19 case trends of a particular place, millions of people can make informed decisions as regards their travel plans. Google, in a statement, said that over a billion people use Google Maps for important information about how to get from one place to the next, particularly during the current health crisis when safety concerns are paramount.
