COVID-19 pandemic

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

Initially, the variants of events only occurred in Japan, South Korea, and Italy. Unfortunately, the impact of the pandemic is continuously increasing, Niantic has to make decisions affecting global trainers.

Worldwide
On March, 2020, Niantic announced a blog about couple of updates of gameplay experience and global events.
 * Abra Community Day has been postponed
 * Egg Incubator is 2 times faster
 * double duration of Incense with 50% discount, the spawn rate has been increased to 1 Pokémon per minute
 * PokéStops drop Gifts more frequently
 * Pokémon habitats increase and more Pokémon are appearing in the wild

Raid Battles
Following Raid Battles were adjusted:
 * Cobalion is available from March to  (originally from  to  only)
 * Lugia is available from March to  (originally from  to  only)
 * also applied to reward of GO Battle League
 * invites for EX Raid Battles are halted

Shop special offer
There is a one-time purchase special offer in the shop regarding to this pandemic. It originally costed 10 PokéCoins and was called Winter Box.

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

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.

Other

 * Pokémon GO Safari Zone in St. Louis was postponed