Google has added a new “COVID-19 info” filter to its Maps service that colour-codes areas to show the spread of the virus.
Users get a seven-day average of the number of new cases per 100,000 people in the area that they are looking at.
They also get a label that shows whether the number of cases is increasing or decreasing.
Google has rolled out this update for all countries and terroritories where Google Maps is available – a total of 220 areas altogether – and can be targeted to country, state, province, and city-level.
The app gathers its data from a variety of sources, including Johns Hopkins University, the New York Times, and Wikipedia.
These in turn get their information from from public health organizations including the World Health Organization, government health ministries, and local health agencies and hospitals.
The update will be rolling out worldwide on both iPhones and iPads, as well as Android devices.
Google has made a number of other updates to its Maps app because of the coronavirus.
The search giant introduced new street-level features to make it more accurate and easier for users to get around.
It also added public transport alerts when they search for directions, in the hope that it will stop overcrowding on trains or buses.
Apple recently released data from its Maps app to track whether people are complying with coronavirus lockdowns.
