Contact tracing app hits development snag

Officials planned to test smartphone pilot ahead of expected second wave

Premier Doug Ford says a development snag at the federal level is delaying the launch of Ontario’s COVID-19 smartphone app.

It was scheduled to be available for download Thursday by the public as part of a pilot project to test the system while cases are relatively low and before an anticipated second wave of the novel coronavirus in the fall.

“We’re ready to go,” Ford told his daily news conference. “I know the feds want to bring it right across the country. They’re working on that … they just need a buy-in from a few more provinces.”

Sources told the Star that Apple and Google are making an application program interface or API available that will allow countrywide notifications under the app. That will reduce confusion between jurisdictions and is being incorporated into the development project that was a collaboration between Ontario, Canadian Digital Services, Shopify and BlackBerry.

“To be the most helpful in our efforts to fight COVID-19, the app needs to be accessible and used by as many Canadians as possible. That’s why we continue to work with the provinces and territories on a voluntary national app that will be ready for download very soon,” said Cole Davidson, a spokesperson for federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu.

The app is designed to notify users if they’ve come in close contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus in the previous two weeks, long enough to have been potentially exposed. The app will not give specific dates or times for privacy reasons.

“We continue to work with the federal partners on the launch of COVID Alert … we expect it to launch shortly,” said a statement from Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott’s office.

Officials explained at a briefing two weeks ago that the app will allow people who get a positive test result to automatically and anonymously notify anyone who has come within two metres of them for at least 10 or 15 minutes.

Anyone testing positive types a randomly generated eightdigit code that comes with positive test results into the app. That triggers messages to contacts that they should get in touch with their local public health unit on what steps to take next.

Ford also announced another $150 million for a social services relief fund to help municipalities and Indigenous communities protect the vulnerable from COVID-19 by improving homeless shelters and housing opportunities for people who live precariously or on the streets.

The money, which doubles a previous cash infusion to the fund, can be used to renovate shelters to improve physical distancing, for example, or provide food and supplies to those in need.

Municipalities have been pleading for more cash as they struggle with the impact of the virus on their costs and finances, such as public transit and child care, with Toronto warning in May it was losing $65 million a week.

“The premier needs to come to the table with a lot more than $150 million to bail out Ontario’s cities from the COVID-19 crisis. This pandemic has brought municipalities to their knees,” said Green Leader Mike Schreiner.

Meanwhile, the president and chief executive officer of Public Health Ontario said Thursday he will not be returning to the agency he led for five years.

“Having experienced cardiac symptoms over a number of weeks, it is now clear that it is important for me to return to the United Kingdom where all of my family are based,” Dr. Peter Donnelly said, calling it a “very difficult decision.”