COVID Alert
| Category | Price | Seller | Device |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical | Free | Health Canada | iPhone |
Several times a day, COVID Alert checks a list of codes from people who tell the app they tested positive. You’ll get a notification if a code you received matches one of the positive codes.
If you test positive for COVID-19 you will receive a one-time key with your diagnosis to enter into COVID Alert. The app asks permission to share your random codes from the last 14 days with a central server.
Other phones using COVID Alert check the central server periodically throughout the day. If they recorded any codes that match the codes in the central server, their user will be notified that they were exposed.
COVID Alert has no way of knowing:
-your location - COVID Alert does not use GPS or location services
-your name or address
-the place or time you were near someone
-if you're currently near someone who was previously diagnosed
Provincial and territorial governments are working to support COVID Alert across Canada. In some places, people cannot yet report a COVID-19 diagnosis through this app.
It’s still helpful to keep COVID Alert on, no matter where you are. That way, when people are able to report a diagnosis, you’ll find out if you were near them.
COVID Alert was built by Health Canada with the Canadian Digital Service on the private exposure notification framework by Apple and Google.
Reviews
Residents or travellers
Hm1234123
Is this app for Canadian residents or travellers? How to get one time activation code? I call the Canadian COVID line they told me it is only for travellers. But in app it did mention.
Well-Designed App
Darren Mo
A well-designed app by Health Canada. - The app clearly communicates how the technology works. - The typography is legible and feels like the Government of Canada websites. - Beautiful, subtle animations. - It just works!
Idiot reviewers
Iloveapps84
Funny that there are some people who are stupid enough to leave a negative review on this because they don’t have the latest version of iOS, which is NEEDED to include the tracking stuff. As if that’s the app’s fault. But yeah, devs, you probably should have better limited what the minimum version was for this. Oh well. People are pretty stupid with their unfair reviews. It’s funny to watch. Just wait til people start complaining about location tracking, which isn’t even done in this hahah
Great app that accounts for privacy!
Saamers reviews
The app took 30 seconds to setup and really takes into account your privacy! I was amazed that it doesn’t ask you for you name or address and has no way to track exactly who you are! Too many innocent people have died, and this is the 2nd best way of making the virus stop. The 1st being locking down everyone inside, which is unrealistic. Let’s get Canada out of this mess and be world leaders As a mobile app development expert, I’m impressed by the overall app. Keep it up and thank you for not rushing an unfinished app.
Lightweight and the safest way to accelerate contact-tracing
chickenandporn
So far, seems lightweight and fairly uncluttered, even though we don’t need to look at it until it detects a positive report you’ve been near. It’s important to use a tool like this that optimizes contact-tracing: Health Canada doesn’t have limitless staff and funds, so we need to make them as efficient as possible with all the tools possible that don’t risk our privacy. Seems to accurately follow the Apple/Google privacy sharing so that your GPS is not leaked and no one but YOU can choose your share your health info. Privacy is important. Also because it doesn’t use GPS, it doesn’t drain your battery. No difference so far on my battery comparing to previous days.
Finally!
JennySDE
Glad there’s finally a contact tracing app in Canada. If there’s anyone concerned about privacy, the app is open source and you can look through the code on GitHub. You can find the link on the developer website.
A huge success!
moe393
The only downfall to the COVID Alert app is that you need a minimum iOS update 13.5, and there are many reasons for this. The government of Canada had to work with Apple and Google to release a new software update that allowed you to connect run Bluetooth handshakes in the background so you do not have to have the app running. This is why the app is only available for iOS 3 13.5 and above. The app is clear and protects your health in a privately matter. I definitely do recommend this app!
An Easy-to-Use App that Everyone Should Install
PJenkinsDC
This app takes seconds to install, does not track you or record personal information and is a really useful tool to containing g the COVID pandemic.
Really happy it exists!
Jessie_Yuan
Super easy to download, doesn’t ask for personal data, I’m glad it respects privacy so much while being a helpful public tool. Made all my family members download it too
