Together, let’s limit the spread of COVID-19 and prevent future outbreaks!
COVID Alert helps us break the cycle of infection. The app can let people know of possible exposures before any symptoms appear. That way, we can take care of ourselves and protect our communities. ~ Government of Canada
Your privacy IS protected
COVID Alert does not use GPS or track your location.
It has no way of knowing:
- your location
- your name or address
- your phone’s contacts
- your health information
- the health information of anyone you’re near
Nobody will get any information about you or the time you were near them. Learn more about how COVID Alert protects your privacy.
How it works
- The app uses Bluetooth to exchange random codes with nearby phones.
- Every day, it checks a list of random codes from people who tell the app they tested positive.
- If you’ve been near one of those codes in the past 14 days, you’ll get a notification.
More about how COVID Alert works
The app runs in the background and will not interrupt your activities. Whenever you’re near someone else with COVID Alert, both phones exchange random codes every 5 minutes. The random codes change often and cannot be used to identify you.
What’s an exposure?
The app estimates how near people are by the strength of Bluetooth signals. If you’re closer than 2 metres for more than 15 minutes, the app will record an exposure.
Getting a positive test
If someone with the app is diagnosed with COVID-19, they can choose to upload the random codes their phone sent. The codes go into a central server. The server only gets the codes. It does not get any information about the person.
Looking for exposures
Every day, whenever it has an Internet connection, your phone will get a list of the random codes from people who reported a diagnosis. If it finds codes that match, the app notifies you that you’ve been exposed and explains what to do next.
How many people are using the app
App usage in Canada: as of October 8, 2020
Number of downloads 4,051,648
Provinces and territories onboard 7
One-time keys used 1,083
Contact us
Get help with the app. Phone: 1-833-784-4397
