Say what you will about Google, but the company has been doing an admirable job of providing as much data as it can during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Now, the company looks to be working on a new layer in Google Maps that shows where COVID-19 outbreaks are at their worst. This could be a useful tool for planning a trip, as you can tell if there are any hotspots where you're going or along your route.
The new Google Maps layer was discovered by known leaker Jane Wong on Twitter and reported on by 9To5Google.
Google Maps looks to feature the new layer alongside the other layers within the app. You'll see options for transit, traffic, biking, 3D, Street View, and the new COVID-19 layer.
Once the layer is turned on, you'll see more sharp lines between states in the US and then highlighted areas where outbreaks are worse. It appears that Google is grabbing data from Wikipedia, The New York Times, Johns Hopkins University, and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to fill in its COVID-19 maps.
Now that many of us are going out into the world again, a tool like this could make it much easier to plan trips. Obviously, there's no replacement for staying home and staying protected, but if you're going to travel, knowing where is safest is definitely useful.
Unfortunately, we don't know when Google will officially roll out this new Google Maps layer (or if it ever will). As it appears to be in the testing phase, we'll have to wait and see if Google decides to implement it further.
It's definitely a great idea, so we hope to see the COVID-19 layer become part of Google Maps. When dealing with a situation like the Coronavirus, any valid information is useful. Having more data in a widely-used tool like Google Maps is always a good thing.
