- Google is rolling out several maps updates to help tackle the reality of COVID-19.
- You will now have more information on COVID-19 cases and local rules, and can track your takeaway orders in real time.
- There is also a preview of the Driving Mode Assistant, which reads your texts and otherwise keeps your eyes on the road.
The COVID-19 pandemic will loom around the Christmas season, and Google is reflecting that reality in its navigation app. The company is rolling out updates to Google Maps that will allow you to navigate the COVID-19 landscape when needed and attend to your grocery needs while (hopefully) staying home.
To begin with, Google is updating the COVID level of Maps on Android and iOS with more detailed information on the new coronavirus in a specific area, including links to local authority resources. If you have no choice but to travel, at least know the rules of your destination. Maps also show public transport congestion using real-time feedback so you know if boarding a bus is too risky.
Both updates will arrive in the “coming weeks”.
Choosing to place an order makes it easier to track meals. Google Maps users in the US, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Germany and India now have the ability to track takeaway and food delivery orders in real time. You must have ordered through Maps, but know when it’s time to pick up an order or how close a delivery might be to your door. It also shows shipping costs, waiting times and an option to reorder previous orders. You will even see your reservation status in restaurants, although obviously not useful as the pandemic rages on.
When you have to drive, you may find it easier to focus on the road. Google Maps offers US users a preview version of a longstanding assistant driving mode. Select the pop-up option when you start navigating and you’ll have a streamlined way to track messages, play audio, and take calls with minimal distractions. You can send or receive calls with your voice and the assistant will read your texts aloud so you cannot read your phone screen.
This is an unusual version of the map for Google. Ideally, you won’t use most of these features during the vacation if you stay home and minimize the risk of getting COVID-19. They could still come in handy if you have to leave, however, and features like food tracking will come in handy long after the pandemic ends.
Next: The best driving apps for Android
