The Government of Canada has launched the COVID Alert Application in Canada. COVID Alert is a free exposure notification app. It is available on both Apple App Store and Google Play (iOS and Android).
What does it do?
COVID Alert sends the notification to people about possible exposures before the COVID symptoms appear. This way, it limits the spread of COVID-19 and protects the communities.
Is this application safe to install on mobile phones?
It is absolutely safe for the below reasons.
- COVID Alert app does not use GPS to track the possible COVID-19 exposures
- Doesn’t track the location
- No information required such as name or address
- It doesn’t ask for phone contacts
- Your health information is not required
- The health information of anyone near you is also not required
None of your privacy is affected by downloading this COVID-19 Alert application.
How does this app work?
It works based on Bluetooth exchange codes. It would help if you turned your alert on for the app to work. And the app runs in the background by not interrupting any of your activities on your phone. Whenever you are near someone else with COVID Alert, every 5 minutes both the phones exchange random codes. You will be notified via COVID-19 alert app if you have been near one of those codes in the past 14-days. While installing this app, you need to choose your province or territory where you live in your app settings.
Download this app now and help the community to limit the spread!
Source: COVID-19 Alert App
