Google has officially announced the retirement of its SpecialAnnouncement structured data, introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially launched as a beta feature in April 2020, the structured data type will be fully deprecated and unsupported after July 31, 2025.
What Was SpecialAnnouncement Structured Data?
The SpecialAnnouncement schema was designed to help organizations, especially government and health agencies, publish urgent COVID-related updates such as health advisories, testing availability, and revised business operations.
Google extended its usage to local businesses to share updates like temporary closures or revised store hours. However, despite its usefulness, the structured data never transitioned out of beta and remained an experimental tool throughout its lifecycle.
Why Google Is Phasing It Out
According to the update in Google’s developer documentation, the SpecialAnnouncement schema is being deprecated due to declining relevance post-pandemic. It was always considered a temporary feature and never integrated as a permanent structured data type.
Users can continue to keep the markup on their websites, but it will no longer influence search results or visibility.
This decision marks the end of an era where structured data played a central role in real-time crisis communication through Google Search.
Key Timeline & Action Points
| Detail | Information |
| Introduced | April 2020 (Beta) |
| Purpose | COVID-19-related announcements |
| Deprecation Date | July 31, 2025 |
| Impact on Sites | No ranking or display effect in Search |
| Submission Methods | Structured data or Google Search Console |
No SEO Penalty for Keeping It
Google clarified that sites still using the SpecialAnnouncement markup will not be penalized, but the data will be ignored by search engines moving forward. This allows developers and site owners ample time to remove or replace the outdated code without any negative consequences.
Final Thought
As the world continues to transition into a post-COVID digital landscape, this deprecation reflects Google’s shift back to more evergreen structured data types. Businesses and publishers are encouraged to revisit their structured data strategies to ensure ongoing alignment with current best practices and supported schema types.
Read Full Official Announcement Over Link Below
https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/structured-data/special-announcements
