SAN FRANCISCO: Google has announced to update its free Maps application this week with color-coding that will highlight areas infected with cases of COVID-19.

In a blog post, Google elaborates that maps will be enhanced if a user taps the new “COVID-19” option in the layers feature in the top corner of the screen.

It will provide data using the latest seven-day average of cases per 100,000 people in areas being viewed, it added.

A label will also let users know whether the number of COVID-19 cases in a particular spot is trending up or down, according to Maps product manager Sujoy Banerjee.

“In some regions, you might find additional information related to COVID-19. If you select the alert on the Google Maps home screen, you’ll find locally relevant links based on your current map view,” it added.