Canada’s COVID-19 exposure notification app now available in Manitoba

Manitoba becomes the latest promise to sign onto the COVID-19 APP as daily coronavirus rates increase.

Over the past months, Canadians have been following public health advice and doing their part to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. As we continue to deal with the health and economic impacts of the pandemic, we need to work together to keep people safe and healthy and contain the virus, so we can build a more resilient Canada.

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, and the Premier of Manitoba, Brian Pallister, today announced that people in Manitoba can now receive one-time keys from their health authorities to use with COVID Alert, Canada’s COVID-19 exposure notification app. The app helps notify users if they may have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

The COVID Alert app is free and voluntary, and is another tool to help limit the spread of COVID-19. 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, and direct them on next steps based on their provincial public health advice.

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 Commissioner of Canada was consulted on the development of COVID Alert and supports its use by Canadians.

“Our government’s number one priority is to keep Manitobans safe. The COVID Alert app is an additional measure to help inform Manitobans and Canadians, and limit the spread of COVID-19 in our communities. I applaud the federal government for their leadership in advancing this important public health tool for the benefit of all Canadians.”The Hon. Brian Pallister, Premier of Manitoba

COVID Alert is available for download to all Canadians, and one-time keys provided by health authorities are now available to the people of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Newfoundland and Labrador. The Government of Canada continues to work with the other provinces and territories to bring their health authorities on board in the coming weeks and months.

Already downloaded by more than 3 million Canadians, this app is an additional tool that can be used to protect Canadians and their loved ones.

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