Navigational mobile app Waze has activated its community and network of partners across its Volunteer Communities, Waze for Cities programs, and more, to support crisis response against the global pandemic Coronavirus (Covid-19).

Just as everyone noticed, Waze data showed that most countries have dramatically stopped driving.

Globally, Waze users are driving 60 percent fewer kilometers compared to the February daily average for a two-week period (2/11/2020-2/25/2020).

Locally, Waze users in the Philippines are also driving significantly less—88 percent fewer kilometers—compared to the average number from February.

Despite the downtrend, there are still essential journeys that need to be made, such as to purchase food and other necessities, which is why Waze believes that its data can help users plan their drives more effectively.

To support this, Waze Map Editors and Waze Crisis Response team are currently working with 58 countries (and counting) to add region-specific relief efforts including road closures, red zones, and more, to the map.

In the Philippines, Waze has added Covid-19 Reference Laboratories in Metro Manila, Baguio, Cebu and Davao to its map.

Waze users can now locate the nearest medical testing center by typing “COVID” or “covid” in the destination search bar.

However, Waze highly encouraged users to take precautions and follow local guidelines during the lockdown.

To add to its latest feature, a “Luzon Quarantine” notification will appear every 24 hours on-screen on the app, to remind Luzon-based users about the ongoing ECQ.

The notification will display the following message: “Travel is allowed only for buying essentials or if you work in an essential industry”.

Waze has also launched a Covid-19 Landing Page, urging government agencies around the world to contribute data on medical testing center and emergency food distribution center locations to help improve its maps for users.

Once the data is received, Waze will validate and add the details to the map, and then inform drivers accordingly.

Further, Waze has quickly rolled out is support for drive-throughs and curbside pickup to help provide users with minimal contact access to Waze’s partners products, such as food and other essentials, while remaining compliant with social distancing guidelines with new Location Personalities badges and search features.

Businesses who need to update their information can do so in a few simple steps or contact Waze’s support team for help.

For more information about Waze and its community as well as partners’ COVID-19 relief efforts please visit the Waze blog or view the landing page here.

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