Amid the pandemic ease in Canada, Ottawa has finally put an end to its COVID-19 exposure alert app, which the citizens use to prevent the spread of the disease.
Following the announcement to shut it down, the government urges the users to remove the application from their smartphones and other devices immediately.
Canada Ends COVID Alert App
According to Techcrunch, the government has disabled the COVID Alert app because of the significant decrease in Canada's PCR testing. This means that there's also a gradual decline in the number of users who use this application.
Since July 2020, the same year the coronavirus outbreak started, Canada has started to roll out the COVID Alert app to all the residents.
As per Health Canada, the app has recorded over 6.9 million downloads since its launch. It's so useful to the point that it alerts individuals if there is COVID-19 exposure in an area.
"While the pandemic is not over, the decision to decommission COVID Alert comes after careful consideration following discussions with provinces and territories on the ongoing evolution of public health programming that varies in each jurisdiction," Health Canada mentioned in its statement.
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How COVID Alert Works
The app is so simple to use. For instance, the two individuals will exchange codes with each other to determine if one of them is infected by COVID-19.
If ever one gets sick because of the virus, the other person will be alerted through his/her phone. This will further warn the phone owner regarding the appropriate health and safety protocols that he/she needs to follow in the process.
Before someone intends to send a notification to other people, the COVID-positive individual is required to get a one-time unique code. He/she can retrieve this from the health authority in the province after undergoing a PCR test.
Although the app is usable in Ottawa, some Canadian provinces have been struggling to use the COVID Alert app to its full potential. With the looming technical problems, Nunavut, Alberta, British Columbia, and Yukon did not sign on using the notification app, per Global News.
As the cases ease up in the country, Health Canada still reminded the people to be "better equipped" against the COVID-19.
Having said that, the agency still recognizes vaccination as an effective tool in mitigating the spread of the illness. To add, it's also important that people always follow strict protocols like wearing masks and getting booster shots.
Regarding the app's advertising, COVID Alert has managed to spend $15.9 million on it alone. There's also $3.5 million spent on maintaining and developing its system.
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This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Joseph Henry
