COVID-19 Information

ABTraceTogether Link

Questions and answers:

What is AB TraceTogether?

• AB TraceTogether is a mobile app that enables community-driven contact tracing to support existing efforts to fight COVID-19 and prevent the spread.
• It is a tool to complement traditional manual contact tracing completed by public health officials.

What does AB TraceTogether do?

• The AB TraceTogether app allows contact tracers from Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services to get in touch with you if you have come into close contact with someone who is diagnosed with COVID-19.
• The app operates on a person’s phone as they go about their day. It securely logs the encrypted reference codes of devices of other app users who have been in close proximity to you.
• If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, the app will assist health officials to notify people you’ve been in close contact with so they can self-isolate and get tested. This will speed up current manual processes and make it quicker to stop the spread of the virus, particularly if restrictions are eased.

How does AB TraceTogether work?

• Users can voluntarily download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
• AB TraceTogether uses Bluetooth to look for other devices that have the app installed. It takes a note of a contact when it occurs, by securely logging the other user’s encrypted reference code.
• The date, duration and proximity of the contact are generated on the user’s phone and also noted. Your location is not recorded.
• This information is securely encrypted and stored on the phone.
• The app uses a rolling 21-day window to allow for the maximum 14-day incubation period of COVID-19, and the time taken to confirm a positive test result.
• Close contact information on your phone is not accessible by anyone, including you. If you are diagnosed with the virus, you will be asked to consent to upload your close contact information to a highly secure information storage system.
• The uploaded information enables health officials to contact the user and close contacts to provide advice on actions they should take to manage their health.

What is contact tracing? Why is it important?

• Contact tracing is the process of identifying individuals who may have come into contact with a person infected with as COVID-19. These contacts are tested for infection. When a contact tests positive for COVID-19, the contact tracing process is then repeated to identify, test and isolate their contacts, as necessary.
• The goal of contact tracing is to interrupt ongoing transmission and reduce the spread, and alert contacts of the possibility of infection as soon as possible.
• Identifying people who may have been exposed to COVID-19 is a critical part of limiting the spread of COVID-19 in communities.

Why do we need an application for contact tracing? Aren’t AHS staff already doing this work?

• Contact tracing is currently very resource intensive and relies on the recall and memory of infected individuals.
• Through wireless Bluetooth technology, the app will complement manual contact tracing and capacity, and facilitate early detection to help reduce the spread of the virus and better protect Albertans.
• The app is especially useful in cases where infected persons do not know everyone whom they had been in close proximity with for an extended duration, for example, at a grocery store.
• The app is not intended to replace current contact tracing methods.

Isn’t this an invasion of privacy?

• Users opt in and must consent to sharing data after a positive test result.
• Data is stored on the user’s phone in encrypted form and deleted every 21 days and will not be accessed unless they consent to share their data with AHS.
• The only information exchanged between user’s phones is a random ID – nothing identifiable is exchanged.
• The app does not use your phone’s GPS, and does not track the user’s location or contacts.

Will the application be pushed/downloaded to Albertans phones automatically?

• No. Absolutely not.
• Use of the application is completely voluntary.
• Users can download the application if they choose and opt in, and must consent to sharing data after a positive test result.
• However, the more Albertans who download and use the application, the better we can protect individuals from being unknowingly exposed and possibly spreading the disease and the sooner we can move towards our relaunch strategy.

Who can use AB TraceTogether? Is it only for Albertans?

• AB TraceTogether can be downloaded and used by anyone with a Bluetooth-equipped Android or iOS smartphone.
• You need to be connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data to download the app, but Wi-Fi is not needed for the app to work.

Will the application be used as an enforcement tool to ensure those required to self-isolate are doing so?

• No, the app will not be used as an enforcement tool. That’s not why it was designed.
• The app does not use your phone’s GPS, and does not track the user’s location or contacts.
• The app is designed to help enhance manual contact tracing and capacity and facilitate early detection to help reduce the spread of the virus and better protect Albertans.

So if I am under quaratine and leave my property, the app won’t be used to fine me?

• No, the app will not be used as an enforcement tool. That’s not why it was designed.
• The app does not use your phones GPS, and does not track the user’s location or contacts.

Do users have to pay to download the application? When will it be available across the province?

• The application will be free to use and download.
• The app will remain voluntary.
• It will be available in the Google Play Store (Android users) and the Apple App Store (iPhone users) starting May 1. Just search for: AB TraceTogether.

How does the app work? Does it require data? Will it drain cell phone batteries?

• After downloading the application in the Google Play Store (Android users) or the App Store (iPhone users), users simply:
  • Enter their mobile number;
  • Enable push notifications;
  • Keep Bluetooth turned on; and
  • Leave AB TraceTogether running.
• The application runs on Bluetooth technology, and requires minimual data use for the application to function.

What constitutes a close contact? Will it work if you are in a grocery store?

• The application uses Bluetooth Relative Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) readings between devices to approximate the proximity and duration of an encounter between two users.
• Users who are within 2 metres from each other for a duration of 15 minutes in total within a 24-hour period are categorized as a close contact.
• It is for a total of 15 minutes within a 24-hour period, not 15 minutes straight.
• To be effective, you should have the app running on your phone whenever you may be coming into contact with people. You will receive daily notifications to ensure the app is running.

Are other countries using contact tracing applications like this? Has it helped contain the spread of COVID-19?

• Yes, AB TraceTogether is based on Singapore’s TraceTogether application.
• However, it is important to remember that the application is just one tool in Alberta’s fight to stop the spread of COVID-19.
• Australia’s contact tracing solution is also based on Singapore’s TraceTogether application.

Is this the exact same version of the application that is being used in Singapore, or has it been customized for Alberta? Who developed AB TraceTogether?

• Singapore made the source code for its TraceTogether application free to other countries interested in adopting something similar.
• The Government of Alberta then contracted Deloitte Canada to work closely with Alberta Health to develop an Alberta version of the application.
• The AB TraceTogether application is designed to ensure the protection of Albertans’ privacy.

How many users are you hoping to get? How many users need to subscribe for it to be useful?

• The more Albertans who download and use the application, the better we can protect individuals from being unknowingly exposed and possibly spreading the disease and the sooner we can move towards our relaunch strategy.

Will the use of this application help businesses and schools reopen sooner?

• The more Albertans who download and use the application, the better we can protect individuals from being unknowingly exposed and possibly spreading the disease and the sooner we can move towards our relaunch strategy.
• Better contact tracing has proven to be successful in other jurisdictions who are working to reopen their economies.
• Singapore designed the application to be interoperable with other jurisdictions that implement TraceTogether. Once this update is available, Alberta will apply this enhancement.

Can visitors to the province also use the application or is it for Alberta residents only?

• Anyone in Alberta (visitors and residents) will be able to download and use the application.

The privacy commissioner has raised concerns over Babylon by Telus Health, what have you done to protect individuals data?

• Data is stored on the user’s phone in encrypted form for only 21 days and will not be accessed unless you test positive for COVID-19 and provide consent to AHS.
• We have briefed the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta (OIPC) on AB TraceTogether and have been in contact with her office throughout the development of the app.
• The AB TraceTogether app does not capture or use information about your location in order to function. In addition, location data is not collected by Alberta Health or Alberta Health Services and is never sent from your phone to another organization for any purpose.
• Under the obligations defined by the Health Information Act, Alberta Health will submit a Privacy Impact Assessment to the OIPC.

Why is the data stored for 21 days? How will that work?

• The app uses a rolling 21-day window to allow for the maximum 14-day incubation period, and the time taken to confirm a positive test result.
• The rolling 21-day window allows the app to continuously monitor only those user contacts that occur during the COVID-19 incubation window.
• Contacts that occurred outside of the 21-day window are automatically deleted from the user’s phone.

If you tested positive, recovered and completed self-isolation, should you still use the app?

• We encourage everyone living or visiting Alberta to use AB TraceTogether, regardless of their location or health status.

What can you tell Albertans who are concerned about their privacy?

• The AB TraceTogether app does not capture or use information about your location in order to function. In addition, location data is not collected by Alberta Health or Alberta Health Services and is never sent from your phone to another organization for any purpose.
• During the app set up, the only personal data we collect is your mobile number, so Alberta Health Services can contact you quickly if you were in close proximity to a COVID-19 case.
• This data is stored only on your phone, and is not shared with Alberta Health or Alberta Health Services. Should Alberta Health or Alberta Health Services need the data for contact tracing, they will ask you directly to share it with them and enable an upload of your contact tracing logs.

Will I be notified if I am in close proximity with an individual who currently has COVID-19?

• No. The app does not use your GPS and does not track your location and is not an enforcement tool.
• AB TraceTogether does not broadcast real time alerts about peoplaround you.
• The purpose of the app is to support contact tracing efforts by public health to identify exposures and limit the spread of COVID-19.

What happens if you get in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19?

• If another AB TraceTogether user tests positive to COVID-19, and your device noted that you were in close proximity to them recently, you may be contacted on the mobile number you registered by Alberta Health Services, alerting you to the potential exposure.

Can you say no to uploading your AB TraceTogether information if you test positive for COVID-19?

• Yes. You always have the choice about whether to share your information if you are identified as a confirmed case.
• Remember though that uploading your information could help save lives and keep others in the community safe.
• The app is community-driven. If app users who test positive with COVID-19 submit their app information when asked, it will help protect others in the community who may have also been exposed to COVID-19.

Is Apple launching its own app now (if Apple/Google have announced they are coming out with an API)?

• Our understanding is that Apple and Google will work with health authorities such as Alberta Health to deploy apps that use their announced application program interfaces (APIs). As such, we’re keenly interested in what Apple and Google are doing, and how that will improve our product over time. 

Will Alberta Health be adopting the Google/Apple API when it’s available?

• Our app is based on an existing open source project, and both Apple and Google are working with that project. We are hoping that we’ll be able to adopt those innovations, including the use of that API, and use that to improve the experience over time.

How does the app fit into the relaunch strategy?

• Quick tracing and containment of outbreaks is critical as the province works to gradually relaunch the economy.
• The AB TraceTogether app will drastically speed up the current manual tracing process and help Albertans protect themselves, their loved ones and their community.

Is there any way for businesses to access my information?

• No. Alberta Health and the Government of Alberta follow industry standards for protecting information and use appropriate administrative, physical and technical safeguards. Alberta Health will not disclose your personal information to third parties without your consent. Please refer to the ABTraceTogether privacy statement for more details.

Does the app identify if there is a wall between me and someone who I have had close contact with (e.g., a neighbour)?

• Although Bluetooth is not a perfect solution, the code is written to detect signal strength. A wall will weaken the signal even if you are physically close to another person on the opposite side of a wall. This is a benefit of Bluetooth against GPS, as GPS detects location and does not account for physical boundaries.

Are there any kind of analytics or AI being conducted on Albertan’s phones?

• There is no AI being conducted on the phones. Analytics details are as follows:
  • The Government of Alberta, through Alberta Health, may use anonymized data collected through the use of the AB TraceTogether app to make sure it is functioning for users who have downloaded it, understand app adoption, support the consistent and effective use of the app, and to better inform contact tracers on thresholds and effective public health outreach activities.
  • Information provided may be used for health system management and planning, policy development and analysis of the public health emergency. Contact information will not be used for this purpose, only your random anonymized User ID and other de-identified data.
  • None of this data is identifiable to a specific person or location, and is always stored separately from any personal information used for contact tracing, such as your phone number. Analytics information used to inform Alberta Health on app effectiveness may include, for example: Total Number of Users, Distribution of User registrations over time, Total Number of Contacts  by User, Average Contacts per User, Distribution of Contacts across Users, Total Unique Contacts, Total number of contacts that have been contacted by a health care worker, average duration of exposure with contacts, etc.
  • Analytics information collected to provide a better experience to app users may include: Device information (brand, category, model, OS version), and app information (app store, app version, country, language, time since installation).

Will AB TraceTogether automatically message people that might have COVID-19?

• No. Alberta Health Services contact tracers are trained and equipped with the procedures and encouters from ABTraceTogether to contact people who may have been exposed to COVID-19. This ensures that Albertans are supported through a trained professional, rather than through an automatically generated message.

Some contact tracing solutions are embedding behavioural phsychology or risk analytics features. Does ABTraceTogether have this functionality?

• No. Alberta has chosen to keep the app’s functionality as simple as possible. Two phones will exchange a digitally encrypted ID and that’s it.

How does ABTraceTogether plan to integrate the Google/Apple API?

• We are aware of the technology and are exploring opportunities to work together.

How is my data protected from hackers or government surveillance?

• Data collection is minimized and only used for specific purposes. Ongoing cybersecurity testing is being conducted on the Application to identify and address potential security weaknesses. Details on data are as follows:
  • During the app set up, the only personal data we collect is your mobile number, so Alberta Health Services can contact you quickly if you were in close proximity to a COVID-19 case.With your consent, the AB TraceTogether app exchanges Bluetooth proximity data with nearby phones running the same app. This data is anonymized and encrypted, and does not reveal your identity or the other person's identity. In order to measure distance, information about your phone model and the signal strength recorded is also shared, since different phone models transmit at a different power. This data is stored only on your phone, and is not shared with Alberta Health Services. Should Alberta Health Services need the data for contact tracing, they will ask you directly to share it with them and enable an upload of your contact tracing logs. The AB TraceTogether app also collects anonymized app utilization data to improve the app across different phone models, and to provide a better experience to our users. Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services are committed to protecting your privacy, and chose a contact tracing solution that was designed with privacy in mind, including the following key features:
    • Geolocation data is not collected by the app (i.e., the information retrieved will not be able to identify where you have been, such as your city or address).
    • The Bluetooth exchange ID log data collected is stored locally in your phone in an encrypted form. This data will not be accessed by Alberta Health Services unless and until you choose to upload it as a result of being diagnosed with COVID-19.
    • Mobile numbers or any other personal information are not revealed to other app users. Only temporary IDs are exchanged between phones and these IDs change regularly.
  • Once contact tracing for COVID-19 ceases, we will prompt users disable Alberta Contact Tracing’s functionality. Please see the privacy notice (insert link) for more information.

What terms will a user have to use to search in the Google/Apple stores to find the app?

• For the Apple App store the keywords are: COVID, contact tracing, Alberta, Alberta Health Service
• For the Google Play store, users will be able to search for the app using ABTraceTogether, or searching under the keyword “Health and Fitness”
  • The Google Play store does not allow you to write specific key words, so we had to choose from a pre-populated list – most options were not relevant or factual.