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Are you traveling to a COVID-19 hot zone? Google Maps, AAA launch new tools to tell you

Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the busiest day on the road for travelers who are driving.

Nationwide, millions of people are traveling to gather this weekend despite pleas and a “no travel “advisory from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

AAA and Google Maps now have new tools you can access on your phone to show you if you’re headed into an area with restrictions or mask mandates or driving to an area that’s a hot zone for COVID-19 cases.

“I drove up from Taos. I know I’m not supposed to,” said Bob Knowles, who is visiting his daughter in Seattle.

He’s not alone. AAA estimates up to 50 million people will travel this Thanksgiving, though added numbers will be down from those estimates with the latest nationwide surge.

“It’s the biggest drop we’ve seen since 2008 in and the Great Recession,” said Kelly Just, of AAA Washington.

But there will still be a lot of travelers during this pandemic. AAA reported most travelers are driving, with Wednesday as the busiest day.

“It took me two days to drive from Taos, 1600 miles, and I probably came in contact with four people,” Knowles said. “In certain states, they don’t wear masks — Wyoming was a little iffy,” he said.

Now, new tools from Google Maps can show you if you’re heading into a coronavirus hot spot.

Open the Maps app and click on the “layers” button on the top right-hand corner of your screen and then select “COVID-19 info.”

The map shows you the seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people by country, state or county.

The map shows King and Snohomish counties are orange. But if you’re heading to eastern Washington, many of those counties there are red.

It’s another tool you can use when deciding whether to travel somewhere.

“I like this technology a lot. I want to put that into everybody’s hands,” said Dr. Paul Pottinger, who specializes in infectious diseases at UW Medicine.

But he warns the data looks back in time and reporting can be incomplete.

“Don’t be lulled into a sense of security if something looks pretty good,” Pottinger said. “These numbers can turn on a dime,” he said.

AAA also has COVID-19 maps online that will tell you exactly what restrictions are in place wherever you’re headed.

Click on Idaho for example, and the map tells you the mask policy in Idaho is “strongly advised but not required.” The map also tells you dining restrictions, gathering restrictions and traveler quarantine advisories.

“Planning ahead is kind of the key to this whole holiday weekend. Gone are the days of spur of the moment, jump in the car and drive somewhere,” Just said.

AAA also recommends you pack your own food and extra drinks so that you don’t have to go into a store or interact with other people.

“We can’t tell you not to travel. We can tell you to look at the CDC’s advice, and if you do make that very personal decision to go, please take the proper precautions,” Just said.

Another feature on Google Maps that’s existed for a while now but still useful: You can check how busy a business is before you head over. On Wednesday at 2 p.m., the Whole Foods in Seattle’s Interbay neighborhood is “as busy as it gets,” meaning you’ll probably want to avoid it to minimize contact with others.