A free app designed to alert Canadians if they come into close contact with someone infected with COVID-19 can now be downloaded in Ontario.
Backed by the federal government, the COVID Alert app is a voluntary system where users can enter their COVID test results to let others in the area know if they were in the vicinity of someone who has been infected, with the goal of stopping the spread of the virus.
The technology – designed with open-source code from volunteers at Ottawa-based Shopify and security features from BlackBerry – uses Bluetooth technology to track a user’s phone location, without collecting or storing any personal data.
OBJ360 (Sponsored)
Minto’s Metro Towns at Anthem in Barrhaven & Parkside in Kanata offer attainable home ownership
Guided by the needs of homeowners, Minto has been building new homes and master-planned communities across Canada and the USA for 70 years. To ensure the best quality of life
Navigating the Second Trump Administration: Insights for Canadian Businesses
As Canadian businesses and governments continue to digest and consider the implications of the 2nd Trump administration, Fasken is leading in its efforts to support our network of clients and
Once a diagnosed person signs into the app, a notification is sent to anyone with the app installed who has been within two metres of the ill person for more than 15 minutes within the prior two weeks.
The app will then encourage users to call their provincial health services for advice on what to do, once a user gets a notification that someone who had been nearby tested positive for COVID-19.
While the voluntary app has received mixed reactions online, the federal government is urging residents in Ontario to download the tracking app before it moves to a Canada-wide rollout.
– With files from the Canadian Press
