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How Google Phased Back In Reviews and Q&A Features After Its COVID-19 Shutdown

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TLDR

GatherUp tracked Google's month-long pause of reviews and Q&A starting March 2020 and the platform's uneven, category-by-category rollout to restore them by summer.

Optimixed Overview

Optimixed's original report on this story.

GatherUp documented Google's temporary suspension of review and Q&A features beginning March 20, 2020, due to reduced staffing from COVID-19, then reported on the phased restoration that lasted through July as Google gradually re-enabled submissions by business category and country. The outlet noted that while new reviews and Q&A began returning in late April for shopping and restaurants, medical categories remained restricted longest, with previously submitted reviews not displayed until mid-July.

Topics:SEO News & Algorithm Updates
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