Google Doodle reminds people to wear a mask: 'They are still important'

If you head to Google today, you'll be given a timely reminder to wear masks amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Each of the primary coloured letters of the Google logo have masked up in the animation, with the G and the E wearing two masks – a surgical one and a more fashionable patterned option.

The text accompanying the Doodle reads: "Masks are still important. Wear a mask and save lives."

When you click on the Google Doodle, you land on results for "Covid-19 prevention". Sharing World Health Organisation advice, the page offers basic information about the pandemic, an interactive map of localised cases for the past 14 days, and a graphic that clearly reads: "Wear a mask. Save lives ... Clean your hands. Keep a safe distance."

You can also click though to read more about symptoms of coronavirus and treatments, as well as see localised information and updates on the Covid-19 vaccine.

Further down the page is information about protecting yourself and others from the virus, and the appropriate precautions to be taken more than a year into the pandemic.

The reiterated advice encourages people to "clean their hands often with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand rub. Maintain a safe distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing. Wear a mask when physical distancing is not possible. Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth. Cover your nose and mouth with your bent elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze".

The public service announcement continues: "Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention."

It also restates the importance of masks with the message: "Masks can help prevent the spread of the virus from the person wearing the mask to others. Masks alone do not protect against Covid-19, and should be combined with physical distancing and hand hygiene. Follow the advice provided by your local health authority."

Google pauses April Fools’ Day prank 'out of respect for all those fighting Covid-19'

Last week, for the second year in a row, Google skipped April Fools' Day because of the ongoing pandemic. Instead, the company plans to "find appropriate ways to bring moments of joy to [its] users throughout the year", according to the company.

It's the second time Google has skipped April 1 festivities since 2004.

"Throughout the past year, I have been so inspired by how helpful our products, programmes, and people have been during humanity's toughest times," states an internal memo from Google vice president for global marketing Marvin Chow, obtained by Business Insider. "We've done it with sensitivity and empathy, reflecting the range of challenging experiences so many are experiencing globally."

Chow says: "As you will remember, last year we made the decision to pause our longstanding Google tradition of celebrating April Fools' Day, out of respect for all those fighting Covid-19. With much of the world still grappling with serious challenges, we feel we should again pause the jokes for April Fools' Day this year. Like we did last year, we should continue to find appropriate ways to bring moments of joy to our users throughout the year."