COVID-19 pandemic

This article records all the actions taken by Niantic in Pokémon GO due to the global pandemic caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Initially, the changes to events only affected players in Japan, South Korea, and Italy. Unfortunately, the impact of the pandemic continuously increased through early 2020, leading Niantic to make decisions affecting global trainers.

Play Where You Are
Niantic published a site with motto Play Where You Are that included tips and notices about in-game features that are being changed and adjusted to allow Trainers playing at home.

The website is available at: https://pokemongolive.com/en/play-where-you-are/. 

Feature changes
On March, 2020, Niantic announced a blog about couple of updates of gameplay experience and global events.
 * Abra Community Day was postponed from March to April.
 * Egg Incubator is 2 times faster
 * Double duration of Incense with 50% discount, the spawn rate has been increased to 1 Pokémon per minute. This also includes the Meltan Mystery Box making it even easier to get Melmetal.
 * PokéStops drop Gifts more frequently
 * Pokémon habitats increase and more Pokémon are appearing in the wild

On March, 2020, Niantic announced more updates.
 * 3× Stardust and XP for the first Pokémon catch of the day
 * Daily open Gifts increased to 30
 * Gift inventory increased to 20

Since March, 2020, the distance for interaction with Gyms has been temporarily doubled, being able to spin the Photo Disc, participate Gym and Raid Battles. Since April, 2020, the distance bonus is applied to PokéStops too.

Raid Battles
Following Raid Battles were adjusted:
 * Cobalion was available from March to  (originally from  to, then  to  only)
 * Also applied to reward of GO Battle League
 * Lugia raid was canceled
 * Invites for EX Raid Battles were halted
 * Legendary Raid Hour was canceled from March until May

Trainer Battles
Following measures are taken when the Season 1 of GO Battle League started:
 * Do not require walking or PokéCoins to unlock battle sets in GO Battle League
 * Trainers can send challenge invites to their Good Friends, which normally required to be at least Ultra Friends

Research tasks

 * Select Field Research tasks that could be difficult to finish from home are removed.
 * Shadow Entei was extended to the end of April.

Shop special offer
There is a one-time purchase special offer for 30 Incenses in the shop regarding to this pandemic.

On March, 2020, Niantic announced the 1 PokéCoin bundles will be changed weekly.

Visit List of shop special offers and promotions/2020 for a complete list.

On April, 2020, Niantic released a game code "EMRK2EZWLVSSZDC5" to give player 8 Poké Balls, 4 Golden Razz Berries and 4 Silver Pinap Berries. It was active until April.

On April, 2020, the Abra Community Day, Niantic released a game code "MDWC4SNGUFXS2SW9" to give player 20 Great Balls and 20 Razz Berries. It was active until April.

Japan, South Korea, and Italy
Addition measures are taken in these three countries since March :


 * Trainers in the above countries can enjoy double duration of Incense with 50% discount.
 * Do not require walking or PokéCoins to unlock battle sets in GO Battle League
 * Receive more Rare Candies and have higher chance to encounter Scraggy and Legendary Pokémon

Raid Battles
Following Raid Battles were canceled:
 * Nidorino and Gengar Special Raid Challenge in Pokémon Day 2020
 * Darkrai
 * Registeel and Cresselia as well as strong Pokémon in Trainer Battle like Skarmory, Swampert and Shieldon
 * Giratina

Events
From March to, the following events were canceled:
 * Pokémon Spotlight Hour
 * Legendary Raid Hour
 * Mystery Bonus Hour
 * Team GO Rocket Global Take-over

The event-exclusive Pokémon appearing in raids and in the wild of GO Battle League Season 1 Launch Celebration did not occur, but event bonuses still applied.

Late 2020
In late September, Niantic announced updates to temporary bonuses. The following bonuses were modified after October, 2020.
 * Hatch distance returns to normal
 * Increased effectiveness of Incense applied only while walking
 * Buddy Pokémon brought Gifts only when the Trainer nearly runs out, only once a day
 * Gift is not guaranteed from spinning PokéStops

The following features were announced to be permanent:
 * Gift inventory at 20
 * 3× Stardust and XP for the first Pokémon catch of the day
 * 1-hour Incense duration

On November, 2020, Niantic announced the return of the following bonuses to at least June 2021:
 * Increased effectiveness of Incense
 * Buddy Pokémon brings more Gifts each day, up to five gifts at once and up to three times a day

2021 and 2022
On May, 2021 announced the return of in person experiences.

On August, 2021 Niantic updated standard gameplay changes to include additional updates added as part of the Exploration Bonus Updates (U.S. and New Zealand):
 * Receive up to two free Raid Passes per day from spinning Gym Photo Discs.
 * Benefit from increased Incense effectiveness while moving.
 * Be guaranteed gifts when spinning PokéStops so long as they have not reached their maximum gift inventory.
 * Receive 10x bonus XP from spinning a PokéStop for the first time.

On August, 2021, removed New Zealand from receiving Exploration Bonuses.

On August, 2021, removed the PokéStop and Gym interaction radius change from Exploration Bonuses and on moved it from temporary change to standard gameplay.

Starting September, 2021, all bonuses were set globally and connected to the current Season in Pokémon GO. These bonuses change at the beginning of each new Season, however some bonuses may roll over from Season-to-Season.

Reocurring Events
Pokémon GO Safari Zones in St. Louis, Liverpool and Philadelphia were postponed. City explorer in St. Louis was canceled.

From April 2020 to March 2022 the Community Day has been named Community Day: Play at Home Edition featuring new bonuses, Special researches, event duration and time.

GO Fest 2020 and GO Fest 2021 were entirely virtual.

Trivia

 * After the Gym distance update, a bug was causing PokéStops to appear as though they are within interactable distance when they were not. They were spinable but only message "Try again later." displayed.