Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #COVIDAlert
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One more short thread about how #COVIDAlert played out, in part to explain more explicitly why I don't think anyone was really "wrong" here, given their respective circumstances. But it's really worth understanding what we can and should do about those circumstances. So: (1/n)
(This thread will make more sense if you've read the original blog post and/or the previous thread on this topic, both here: )
1. It absolutely made sense for the federal government to develop and deploy an EN service, nationally, even before it could gauge to what extent provinces and territories would or wouldn't effectively be willing and able to close the one-time-key loop in large numbers.
Tl;dr: I believe the primary reason why #COVIDAlert (and the many sibling apps in the U.S.) didn't meet expectations starts with the fact that the process of reporting an infection into the app depended on a huge, highly fragmented web of health and test result providers. 1/
Before the prevalence of at-home tests, there was enormous diversity in the "last mile" of test result delivery into patients' hands: in-person, texts, phone calls, paper reports, websites, hotlines. That diversity was not managed, and was probably unmanageable, centrally.
Combined with the uncertainty about just how much good EN apps could do, it was never, and could never be, a high priority for provincial authorities to create, and incentivize compliance with, the array of protocols necessary for all those different providers to,
This third wave is incredibly serious. Cases are rising rapidly. In several places across the country, numbers are higher than they’ve ever been before. Our hospitals are stretched far too thin. Here’s some of what we’re doing to support the provinces and territories:
In Ontario, we’re standing by to deploy @RedCrossCanada to help with their mobile vaccination teams. This is about getting doses to people where the situation is the most serious.
We’ve already deployed Mobile Health Units in Ontario, providing more hospital beds and freeing up space for people who need critical care. We’ve provided the province with lab support, contact tracers, and health care equipment - like oxygen units and drugs to treat COVID-19.
A story about COVID in Ontario because I feel like a lot of the younger people in my network might benefit from reading this:
A few weeks ago, my sister (19) caught one of the variants.
1/12
A few weeks ago, my sister (19) caught one of the variants.
1/12
The guy who gave it to her was exposed by his cousin on a Monday. A few days later, his cousin (not public health) told him he’d tested positive for COVID.
Guy got tested on Thursday and it came back negative. On Friday and Saturday, he saw his housemates and my sister.
2/12
Guy got tested on Thursday and it came back negative. On Friday and Saturday, he saw his housemates and my sister.
2/12
They thought since everyone but the guy had been following COVID guidelines, and since he’d just tested negative, that they could get together indoors. After all, they had fewer than the max # of ppl allowed inside a house at one time and case numbers were low in that area
3/12
3/12
We’ll see how long I can last for the Alberta covid update today. It’s starting late. Are Kenney & Shandro expected?
They’re obviously going to have to spin pretty hard on the ‘pastor in shackles arrested for preaching’ story.
Shandro is starting. He is updating about contact tracing. He’s going through the numbers of how many there are. 2300 in Alberta. 41 per 100,000 Albertans.
❗️ Remember, we all possess the tools and the ability to protect against this virus and stop the outbreak. The same public health measures we have been practicing throughout the year will protect us now:
😷 Your non-medical mask is a critical layer of protection for yourself and others.
Wear it whenever you are interacting with people outside your household bubble, not just indoor public spaces.
Wear it whenever you are interacting with people outside your household bubble, not just indoor public spaces.
Your mask should be at least 2⃣ layers, 3⃣ is better.
👉Make sure it fully covers your nose and chin. Do not wear a face shield in place of a mask.
👉Make sure it fully covers your nose and chin. Do not wear a face shield in place of a mask.
Feeling a bit of outrage fatigue. I know UCP likes to make digs about ‘the angry left’ (ie everyone who doesn’t support them or believe their lies), and maybe they’re trying to bombard us with their screw-ups until we’re numb to it all, but it’s ALL justified. 1/11
While we’ve been watching Kenney immolate what’s left of his credibility as a ‘leader’ over this Keystone XL debacle, it’s easy to forget that it’s only 10 days since we found out about the veto AIMCo will have over ATRF’s direction on how to invest hijacked pension funds. 2/11
It’s only 3 weeks since Kenney first tried to absolve his MLAs of blame in their hypocritical Christmas vacations, and less than that since he kicked a minister out of cabinet and another MLA out of caucus. 9 of them travelled. 5/11
Kenney and Shandro both sound uncomfortable during the covid update. They also sound like they’ve been coached to try to sound more like they care about this situation, rather than downplaying it as usual.
Buuuuuut. Now Shandro is bragging about what a great job they’ve done. Or, in an alternate view, justifying the choices they’ve made.
Shandro is talking about ‘web tools’ they have purchased to track things. This would be a perfect opportunity for a reporter to ask about #covidalert
There are so many tools still left in the toolbox that you have not used to lower the cases in our health regions @jjhorgan @DrBonnieHenry @adriandix
mandatory masks; ventilation upgrades; lower class sizes; remote learning options made widely available for parents so that they don't have to force their children back and schools having to reshuffle and reorganize for January
asymptomatic testing in schools; #COVIDAlert and asymptomatic testing in the community; releasing 900,000 rapid tests for elderly and #healthcare #careworkers in #LongTermCare homes
Why it’s good to set your #COVIDAlert app to auto-update: we’re always improving it and releasing new versions!
Like an upcoming update which will fix an issue on some Android phones that was stopping the app from checking for exposures.
Like an upcoming update which will fix an issue on some Android phones that was stopping the app from checking for exposures.
For Android 9 and up, this issue may happen because the device prioritizes apps based on their usage. In order to save battery, less frequently used apps can sometimes be paused from performing background tasks - like checking for exposures.
With the new fix, users may see a brief Android message when their phone is checking for exposures. This temporary message will re-prioritize the app and allow it to conduct background tasks.
Jason Kenney disappeared for at least 10 days during his 2nd quarantine, then came back and introduced laughably inadequate half measures on Nov. 24 that were obviously never going to have an effect. 1/7
During that whole time the case numbers, hospitalizations, ICU patients & deaths escalated alarmingly. In his arrogance, he ignored science, examples from other areas, and hundreds of doctors *begging* for meaningful action. 2/7
We heard a lot of blather about ‘fundamental freedoms’ and a lot of reliving the past glory of being 1st & best with pandemic measures back in the spring (not sure that was ever true). He refused the most minimal, no cost actions like a mask mandate, enabling #covidalert or 3/7
**Help IS Desperately NEEDED** **Emergency HELP**
This is very hard for us to write. But we feel we have no other choice due to us seeing the massive amount of requests that we are getting daily for both Humans and Pets.
Here is what has happened as of late:
This is very hard for us to write. But we feel we have no other choice due to us seeing the massive amount of requests that we are getting daily for both Humans and Pets.
Here is what has happened as of late:
This past weekend alone, we had over 30 emergency requests from individuals & families fleeing domestic violence. Many leaving with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
We were able to help about 17 of these individuals find shelter and lodging via referrals to other groups.
We were able to help about 17 of these individuals find shelter and lodging via referrals to other groups.
The other 13 individuals are being helped by our awesome volunteers. We are tracking down emergency funding and helping them apply for help through various organizations here in #Calgary.
We will be assisting them and their families in hopes of helping them feel safe once again.
We will be assisting them and their families in hopes of helping them feel safe once again.
I don’t want to seem paranoid, but I really feel that despite their truly superhuman efforts to follow all possible protocols, schools are driving this covid spread to a far greater degree than the government will admit. 1/10
We know there has been in school transmission in 166 schools. We’re told ‘about half’ spread to “only one” other case. Let’s examine that claim. The way this government equivocates, we can be sure that ‘about half’ is not less than half or exactly half or they would say so. 2/10
So, at a minimum, 84 of 166 schools had more than one case transmitted. If those schools had only 2 cases as a result, we get (84 x 2)+ 82 (with one case)= 250 cases. Minimum. However, the schools with >1 other case—how many others? It could be a LOT more than 2. 3/10
#COVIDAlert
Think the vaccine will end our #COVID19 problems soon?
Think again.
Pfizer will produce 50 million doses this year. 1/2 of those may go to the US. Each person needs 2 doses, so 12.5 million of us get vaccinated with Pfizer vaccine . /1
pfizer.com/news/press-rel…
Think the vaccine will end our #COVID19 problems soon?
Think again.
Pfizer will produce 50 million doses this year. 1/2 of those may go to the US. Each person needs 2 doses, so 12.5 million of us get vaccinated with Pfizer vaccine . /1
pfizer.com/news/press-rel…
Moderna says they will have 20 million doses this year for US. Again, 2 doses each. That’s another 10 million.
That means maybe 22 million out of 328 million people get vaccinated this year. /2
cnbc.com/2020/11/16/mod…
That means maybe 22 million out of 328 million people get vaccinated this year. /2
cnbc.com/2020/11/16/mod…
While we get excited about a vaccine, #COVID19 cases rise. We have had one million cases documented over the past week, our rate of rise is higher than it even was in the summer, we have hospitalizations going up 25% week over week.” /3
#PeopleAreDying
cnn.com/2020/11/19/hea…
#PeopleAreDying
cnn.com/2020/11/19/hea…
This is profoundly frustrating! 😡
The federal #COVIDAlert app is 100x more effective, is FREE, provides instant contact tracing and LITERALLY all that is required is for @jkenney and @shandro to state that @AHS_media can use it.
theglobeandmail.com/amp/canada/alb…
A thread 👇
The federal #COVIDAlert app is 100x more effective, is FREE, provides instant contact tracing and LITERALLY all that is required is for @jkenney and @shandro to state that @AHS_media can use it.
theglobeandmail.com/amp/canada/alb…
A thread 👇
Some history:
The #ABtracetogether app was copied by @Deloitte from an open source project initially created in Singapore. The #COVIDAlert app was created by volunteers from @Shopify and @BlackBerry and handed over to the Canada Digital Services team @CDS_GC who now maintain it.
The #ABtracetogether app was copied by @Deloitte from an open source project initially created in Singapore. The #COVIDAlert app was created by volunteers from @Shopify and @BlackBerry and handed over to the Canada Digital Services team @CDS_GC who now maintain it.
As much as I'm sure he'd love to take claim for it, contrary to what our @Alberta_UCP has mentioned, the #COVIDAlert app is NOT "a @JustinTrudeau app".
Justin didn't make it.
It's a #Canadian app. Built by Canadians. For #Canadians. 🇨🇦 👏
Justin didn't make it.
It's a #Canadian app. Built by Canadians. For #Canadians. 🇨🇦 👏
Thread.
Last week I decided to dig into the life-threatening Precondition & Excuses from Alberta Health to resist enabling the National COVID-19 Exposure Notification App.
@Dave_Khan @DShepYEG @shandro @jkenney @RachelNotley
Last week I decided to dig into the life-threatening Precondition & Excuses from Alberta Health to resist enabling the National COVID-19 Exposure Notification App.
@Dave_Khan @DShepYEG @shandro @jkenney @RachelNotley
The Precondition and Excuses became clear enough last week to analyze and examine critically against the facts.
@Jantafrench @jasonfherring @ctvedmonton @PattyHajdu @JustinTrudeau
@Jantafrench @jasonfherring @ctvedmonton @PattyHajdu @JustinTrudeau
Frustrated with the lack of answers, or evasive answers from provincial elected officials, municipal officials and provincial media have been asking @CMOH_Alberta.
@iceTyyc @nenshi @CBCFletch @Adam_Toy
@iceTyyc @nenshi @CBCFletch @Adam_Toy
1) With #COVID19 cases rising for the past four days, it may be premature to draw the conclusion that the second wave is plateauing in Quebec, as Premier François Legault suggests. In this thread, I will call for a more rapid response to contact tracing. montrealgazette.com/news/local-new…
If you're wondering how the Canadian #COVIDAlert App works without collecting any personal information (including your location), it's actually super-clever.
If you install and activate the app, it will run in the background broadcasting random numbers at regular intervals using Bluetooth and listening for other phones that are also chirping out their own random numbers.
The app will record all the random numbers it hears and keeps track of all the random numbers it chirps out.
If someone tests positive for COVID, they can enter a special code provided form public health.
If someone tests positive for COVID, they can enter a special code provided form public health.
1) More than a month after the school year started, Quebec will require high school students in red zones to wear masks in class as of Thursday. But that won’t be mandated for primary school children. In this thread, I will argue why children in this age group should wear masks.
2) Dr. Richard Massé, a public health advisor to the government, acknowledged that “there is some transmission (of the #coronavirus) in primary schools, but it’s much more limited than what we see in secondary schools.” Massé did not cite any statistics to back up his assertion.
3) In the absence of stats from the government, let me provide some #COVID19 figures by age group drawn from the Montreal public health department from Aug. 25, just before the start of the school year, until the most recent date available, Oct. 4. The stats are quite revealing.
Simple explanation of how the 🇨🇦COVID Alert app works to trace potential #COVID19 exposure while maintaining user privacy!🤫🦠📱
#COVID19Canada #COVIDAlert
#COVID19Canada #COVIDAlert
How to download the COVID Alert app:
📱🦠🇨🇦
Iphone/iOS - App Store: apps.apple.com/ca/app/id15202…
Android - Google Play: play.google.com/store/apps/det…
📱🦠🇨🇦
Iphone/iOS - App Store: apps.apple.com/ca/app/id15202…
Android - Google Play: play.google.com/store/apps/det…
I take privacy very seriously - I was interviewed about a potential app before "COVID Alert" was released & I said I would not download unless it was shown to respect privacy (& was asked the question 4 times in different ways & refused to change my answer)
I have downloaded it!
I have downloaded it!
1/3 Another way to help break the cycle of #COVID19 infection is to download the #GOC’s free #COVIDAlert app on your phone. While protecting your privacy, the app can alert you of a possible exposure before any symptoms appear. canada.ca/en/public-heal…
2/3 If you have downloaded the #COVIDAlert app and later test positive for #COVID19, you will get a one-time key from your provincial or territorial health care authority that you can enter into the app.
3/3 The app will then notify other app users you may have come into close contact with while you were infectious. The app protects your privacy, working without collecting personally identifiable or location data.
1/3 While most of us are enjoying #LabourDay many of 🇨🇦’s #FrontLineWorkers are on the job today keeping us and our loved ones safe. It’s up to us to #DoYourPart, by keeping #COVID19 on #SlowBurn through #fall. #TestandTrace
2/3 #COVID19 will take a mile if we give it an inch. We can all reduce the risk of COVID-19 in our communities. Small acts like #handwashing, #PhysicalDistancing, #MaskOn when and where needed have big impacts.
3/3 Downloading the free #COVIDAlert exposure app will give you information to help protect yourself. 2.2 million Canadians are already using it.
canada.ca/en/public-heal…
canada.ca/en/public-heal…
