A month later than originally planned, the COVID Alert app is rolling out for residents of Ontario today.
It can be downloaded for smart phones from the Apple and Google Play app stores.
The COVID Alert app lets users know if they may have been exposed to the virus.
As the saying goes, the more the merrier- and the more people who download the application, the more effective it can be in fighting the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The app was developed in consultation with the Privacy Commissioners of Canada and Ontario, and, according to the Province, ensures the highest level of privacy for everyone using it.
It works by using Bluetooth technology to detect when users are near each other.
If a user tests positive for COVID-19, they can choose to let other users know without sharing any personal information.
Ontarians who receive an exposure alert can then get tested and take action to help keep themselves, their families, and their friends from spreading COVID-19.
The app does not collect personal information or health data, and does not know or track the location, name, address, or contacts of any user.
It is a key tool in Ontario’s case and contact management strategy, and will become available across the country later in August.