COVID-19 is expected to launch in Ontario on July 2.Ontario government officials say the app – named COVID Shield will supplement the province’s contact tracing strategy ahead of a potential second wave of the virus in the fall.
The province says it also plans to launch a new cloud-based case management system this summer and will bolster its contact tracing workforce – doubling its current capacity to more than 4,000 workers.The government says the app works on an opt-in basis in order to protect the privacy of users, and the province has consulted with the Information and Privacy Commissioner on its development.The app will notify people based on a number of criteria, including if they were within two metres of a person who tests positive.