At a news conference on Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called on Canadian youth to download the country’s Govt warning warning app. Global News.
“Young people should download the Govt warning app,” he pleaded with the Prime Minister. “It’s a way to help your parents, your grandparents – it’s a way to make sure you’re doing your part,” he said.
“It only takes a second to download, it’s free, it protects your privacy, and it definitely helps fight this virus,” he said.
Canada’s Govt Alert application is based on Google’s and Apple’s exposure notification framework, which enhances Bluetooth on devices with anonymous “handshakes” in the background. The application does not use GPS information or collect any user data. It was explored as safe by the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and provincial colleagues.
If someone tests positive for COVID-19, they can use the COVID alert to alert others who have been in contact anonymously, by obtaining a one-time application from their provincial health officer.
States currently supporting the COVID alert:
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Ontario
- Quebec
- Saskatchewan
- Nova Scotia
- Prince Edward Island
- Northwest Territories
Still waiting:
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Nunavut
- Yukon
Download links:
As of November 26, Govt Alert has been downloaded 5.5 million times, with 6,406 people voluntarily entering the keys once, the federal government said.
“For the coming months, we must use all the tools we have, and the COVID alarm is just another tool in our toolbox,” Trudeau concluded.
While most of Canada welcomes the use of the COVID warning app with open arms (this app was recently launched in the Northwest Territories too!), Some major provinces (we see you, Alberta and British Columbia) are still out.
Beatrice Ashford is a contributor at Nintendo-power.com, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and useful information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessible journalism that keeps readers connected to the issues shaping the world around them.