Read on Twitter
Today we @CDS_GC launched COVID Alert, a mobile app, in the Apple and Google app stores. A few thoughts, none of which are necessarily my employer's. But first, the links: https://twitter.com/CDS_GC/status/1289226205858680833 (1/n)
This app is the result of a lot of work, done very fast, by, yes, a big team @CDS_GC, but also the @ONgov ODS @GovCanHealth @TBS_Canada @cybercentre_ca @PrivacyPrivee @ServiceCanada_E @ISED_CA @SSC_CA @PrivyCouncilCA @Apple @Google @Shopify @BlackBerry @weareoxd & @LFPubHealth.
(I'm sure I'm forgetting someone(s). If I have, please add here!)
This product took 45 days to launch, with 3 product teams working in tandem. There were three security review teams, from the Canadian Centre for CyberSecurity, the Office of the CIO, and an audit team from BlackBerry. And it's all open source for anyone to review.
We also reviewed for inclusive design and for accessibility. Nearly 6,000 people in Canada helped us improve the app by testing it and participating in research activities.
We even created a brand new, bilingual, inclusive phonetic alphabet for communicating alphanumeric codes to patients over the telephone.
I am incredibly, head-flying-off proud of what this team has accomplished in a short time, under very bright lights. They kept their cool and did it right. They made mistakes and fixed them. All the shout-outs in the world to the amazing humans of @CDS_GC.
I'll have more to say about the ways I believe this has been a game-changing moment for the Government of Canada's evolution toward digital-led service delivery. The ecosystem empowered and supported our little agile, in-the-open product teams to a remarkable degree.
But right now let's get this app installed. Everyone. I'm not an epidemiologist or a physician. But the best info I have is that it can help. At relatively low cost, it seems more than worth trying. And the more people install it, the greater the chance it will make a difference.
It's not a substitute for any of the other measures that can help slow or stop the spread of COVID-19. Wear a mask. Keep your distance. Wash your hands. But this can help too. You should install it. Go on! The links, again: https://twitter.com/CDS_GC/status/1289226205858680833 /fin
