The Alert-COVID application has been deactivated

Users can now remove this application from their device, Health Canada says.

Deactivating COVID Alert was not a surprise; it became useless due to trial abandonment PCR of the provinces.

Although the pandemic is not over, the decision to decommission the COVID Alert app was made after discussions with provinces and territories on the ongoing evolution of public health programs.says Health Canada.

COVID Alert was launched on July 31, 2020, at a critical time in the COVID-19 pandemic when cases are rising in Canada and around the world , remember Health Canada services. He gave up an additional tool to help limit the spread of the virus.

More than 6.9 million people living in the country have downloaded this application and more than 57,000 users who tested positive for COVID-19 warned others of possible exposure.

COVID Alert was valued at $ 20 million, most of which – $ 15.9 million – was spent on promotion and advertising. Ottawa spent $ 3.5 million on developing and maintaining the app.

The government also justifies decommissioning this tool by improving the public health situation.

The number of cases has dropped and hospitalization and death rates across the country have dropped. Thanks to the successful vaccination campaign, 32 million (almost 90%) of people over 12 years of age living in Canada have received two doses of vaccine for COVID-19. Canada also has one of the highest vaccination rates in the worldHealth Canada added.

Earlier on Friday at a press briefing, Dr. Howard Njoo, Deputy Chief Public Health Officer of Canada, that COVID-19 has shown us over the past few years that there can be even more surprises.

” The virus is still spreading in Canada and abroad. “

Increasing transmission of monkeypox in the country

In mid-summer, which is more suitable for gatherings and travel, barrier movements, good habits to counter COVID-19, pwede help prevent other infections, including monkeypoxrecollection of Dr. Howard Njoo, who painted a picture of the distribution of cases.

Worldwide, at least 1,285 confirmed cases of monkeypox were reported in 28 non-endemic countries on June 8. In Canada, on June 17, 168 confirmed cases were reported, including 141 in Quebec, 21 in Ontario, 4 in Alberta and 2 in British Columbiahe pointed out.