Google Maps Ensures Safer Transits In Pandemic With COVID-19 Travel Alerts
Image via BigTunaOnline / Shutterstock.com
Google Maps will now alert users with COVID-19-related information like travel limitations and crowd volume gauges as they move about after lockdown restrictions ease.
The app will provide information on travel restrictions and reports on the volume of crowds in public transportation, as well as inform users about things to take note of beforehand such as if their trip will require a mask during mass transit or will include a COVID-19 checkpoint.
The data is sourced from “authoritative data from local, state and federal governments or from their websites,” according to Google’s blog post.
The alerts are currently available to those living in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, France, India, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, and the United States. Google plans to expand this accessibility to more areas over time.
The company previously created a feature for users to stay informed on how crowded public transits might be through user-submitted data. Now, the feature has been simplified for users to find travel routes and easily gather crowd predictions by tapping on Transit Details.
Google Maps will also let users check on eligibility requirements before they visit a medical facility or COVID-19 testing center. The feature for medical facility visitations is available to those residing in Indonesia, Israel, the Philippines, South Korea, and the US. Alerts on testing centers are currently limited to users living in the US.
COVID-19 has made getting around more complicated. We're helping you get from A to B with new features that alert you to important information and allow you to safely avoid crowds on public transit → https://t.co/UbvQy9ihcC pic.twitter.com/1LozSND3WL
— Google Maps (@googlemaps) June 8, 2020
[via Engadget, cover image via BigTunaOnline / Shutterstock.com]
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