New national mobile app COVID Alert now available for free download

Justin Trudeau

PRIME Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Friday announced that COVID Alert, a new national mobile app, is now available to Canadians for free download. The app, first developed in Ontario, helps notify users if they may have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Use of COVID Alert is voluntary, and serves as another tool to help limit the spread of COVID-19. Once the app is fully functioning in their province or territory, users who test positive for COVID-19 will receive a one-time key from their health authority that they can enter into the app. When the key is entered, COVID Alert will notify other users who may have come in close contact with that person for at least 15 minutes in the past 14 days, so they can contact their local public health authority for guidance.

To safeguard the confidentiality and privacy of all Canadians, the app uses strong measures to protect any data it collects, and does not track a user’s location or collect personally identifiable information. The Privacy Commissioners of Canada and Ontario were consulted on the development of COVID Alert, to ensure the highest level of privacy for Canadians using the app.

The federal government has been working in close partnership with the Province of Ontario to launch the COVID Alert app. Health authorities in Ontario will be the first to begin distributing one-time keys. The federal government is also working with the other provinces and territories to bring their jurisdictions on board in the coming weeks and months.

An expert Advisory Council will ensure the app meets the highest standards in public health outcomes, privacy, and technology. The members of the Council reflect Canada’s regional and cultural diversity, and cover a wide range of expertise, including health, privacy, data governance, science, and innovation. Their advice will inform the implementation and rollout phases of the app.

Trudeau said: “While we have made good progress over the past few months, COVID-19 remains a very serious threat to the health of Canadians. As we continue to gradually restart our economy, innovative technologies like this new app will help us keep our families and communities safe and healthy.”

Ford said: “I am proud of the fact that this Ontario-made app will now be available to individuals and families right across the country. It will be another powerful tool to help us stop the spread of this deadly virus and keep people healthy and safe. I encourage everyone to download it onto your handheld device, it is free, easy to use, and the responsible thing to do.”

Navdeep Bains, federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, added: “Innovation is more important now than ever. With this new app, we will be better positioned to help contain the spread of COVID-19 while supporting Canada’s economic reopening. It is intended to support people in safely participating in the economy. We’re also taking every step necessary to ensure Canadians have the confidence and trust that their data is being protected. The COVID-19 Exposure Notification App Advisory Council will help ensure COVID Alert meets the highest standards of privacy, technology, and, most importantly, public health outcomes.”

Quick Facts

  • COVID Alert is now available for Canadians as a free download from the App Store or the Google Play Store. The app assigns a random code to a user’s device that pings other users of the app via Bluetooth when they are within a range of approximately two metres. If they test positive for the virus, users can choose to upload their random codes to a central server located in Canada. Once uploaded, the random codes are stored on the server for 15 days, after which they are automatically deleted.
  • The COVID-19 Exposure Notification App Advisory Council was named by the Government of Canada and its members are:
    • Jean-François Gagné (co-chair)
    • Carole Piovesan (co-chair)
    • Simone Atungo
    • Dr. Jonathan Dewar
    • Dr. Bunmi Fatoye
    • Éloïse Gratton
    • Andrew Harrison
    • Brenda McPhail
    • Dr. Derek Ruths
    • Dr. Margo Seltzer
    • Dr. Gaynor Watson-Creed
  • The app has undergone a security assessment by BlackBerry and the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security. All data provided to the app will be securely stored and protected.
  • The Government of Canada has taken extensive steps to ensure that citizens’ privacy and data are protected. Given the importance the government assigns to these issues, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner has been consulted on this initiative.
  • COVID Alert is a collaboration between Health Canada, the Canadian Digital Service, the Province of Ontario, and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. It builds upon an exposure notification solution developed by Shopify volunteers in coordination with the nonprofit Linux Foundation Public Health. It is also the work of a team of developers from across the country.
  • Canadians who want to know more about COVID Alert can call 1-833-784-4397.
  • The Canadian Digital Service is making its work on the app’s development and testing available on Github.
  • COVID Alert complements the existing Canada COVID App, a tool that supports Canadians in tracking their symptoms while allowing them to receive the latest updates and access trusted resources.