Google Maps: a powerful tool to help avoid crowds in public places

Taiwan has declared stricter prevention measures as the country is back on fighting the coronavirus. The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) urges people to avoid heading outside, since public places were all visited by cases in the community, including supermarkets, wet markets, and convenience stores, etc. 

However, people can avoid unnecessary gatherings and stay at home. But they cannot avoid leaving home to get food and groceries. 

Google Maps can be a useful application to help people avoid going to places with higher COVID-19 spread. 

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CECC urges people to avoid heading outside, since public places were all visited by cases in the community, including supermarkets, wet markets, and convenience stores. Image courtesy of Travel Taipei.

According to Times Now, Google says this information has become a powerful tool during the pandemic, making it easier for you to social distance because you know in advance how crowded a place will be. 

To try out this feature, open Google Maps on your phone and search for the place you are heading to and scroll down past the description and phone number. You will find the 'Popular times' option, which will show you a chart of how busy that place is throughout the day.

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Google Maps makes it easier for you to social distance because you know in advance how crowded a place will be. Image courtesy of CECC.

Times Now  mentions Google Maps uses Location History data from people who have opted to turn this setting on from their Google Account to calculate how busy a place is for every hour of the week.

Once you know the popular times of your destination, you can avoid going there when it is crowded with people to lower the risk of COIVD-19 spread.