Google Maps Rolls Out Updates to Help You Stay Safe During Holidays

For those who need to be out and about this holiday season, Google Maps has rolled out four updates that can help users get around safely and get things done.

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Updated COVID layer on Google Maps for iOS will soon show more information, including all-time detected cases in an area, along with quick links to COVID resources from local authorities. This is especially handy if you’re heading out of town. 

And if you need to take transit, Google Maps will help you more easily social distance with live crowdedness information by showing you how crowded your bus, train, or subway line is.

Google is also rolling out the ability to see the live status of takeout and delivery orders in the United States, Canada, Germany, Australia, Brazil, and India when you book or order from Google Maps on Android and iOS. 

You can also see expected wait times and delivery fees, and easily reorder your favorites right from the Google Maps app.

Thanks to the new driving-friendly Assistant interface, you can easily get more done while keeping your focus on the road. Use voice to send and receive calls and texts, quickly review new messages across your messaging apps in one place, and get a read-out of your texts so you don’t need to look down at your phone.

You can also play media from hundreds of providers around the globe, including YouTube Music, Spotify, Google Podcasts and many more.

To get started with driving mode, begin navigating to a destination with Google Maps and tap on the pop up to get started.

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