COVID-19 Archives - The Canadian

22Nov

By thecanadianNo Comments

BC Still Rejects COVID Alert App, Text Alerts Despite COVID-19 Spike

Despite the fact that British Columbia is classified as a `` fast growing '' province for COVID-19 cases, the British Columbia government does not intend to use text alerts or adopt the COVID alert app for exposure notifications, based on a report from CTV News. Image: CTV News During a modeling briefing in Ottawa, Canada's director of public health, Dr. Theresa Tam, revealed that per capita infection rates in British Columbia are on par with those of the worst-hit provinces in Canada, and that COVID cases nationwide quadruple. to 20,000 per day by the end of December if no preventive measures are taken. When CTV News asked the British Columbia Ministry of Health if the government had any plans to use the province's emergency alert system to spread awareness in areas at high r...

19Nov

By thecanadianNo Comments

Apps & Games, COVID-19, News, youtube

YouTube Adds Trusted Links on COVID-19 Vaccines to Fight Misinformation

YouTube is updating its information panels, which appear when you search for things about COVID-19, to include information on vaccines. The company launched the panels earlier this year, and as discussions about possible COVID-19 vaccines are mounting, YouTube wants to direct viewers to reliable sources. YouTube will now ask users to "learn more about the progress of the vaccine" from trusted sources like the World Health Organization in relevant videos. The new panels are already visible in the United States and will be rolled out worldwide in the coming days. It's a good move for YouTube to try to educate people about vaccines, especially since anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists will use the platform to discourage people from get...

17Nov

By thecanadianNo Comments

ABtracetogether, alberta, Business, covid alert, COVID-19, Government

Alberta’s ‘ABTraceTogether’ app has been used to track just 20 cases since May

Alberta's COVID-19 tracking app 'ABTraceTogether' has been used to track just 20 cases since it was launched six months ago. The provincial government has revealed that it has been downloaded more than 260,000 times. The Alberta government has also slightly downgraded previous claims that it had resolved issues with the iOS version of the app with a recent update. You have recognized that problems can persist when the application runs in the background on iPhones. the CBC notes Experts have said that the problem can only be solved if Apple changes the way its operating system grants permission to third-party applications. Apple's restrictions are in place as a safety and battery saving measure, and it would be highly unlikely th...

3Nov

By thecanadianNo Comments

Business, COVID-19, Government, Ontario, Ontario government

Ontario Government Launches Enhanced COVID-19 Data Center

The Ontario government has launched a updated COVID-19 data hub to provide a better overview of infection rates across the province. The new data page includes interactive charts that allow users to compare infection rates in different public health units. “This new dashboard will allow you to see exactly where the trends are heading. You will have access to the same public health data and information as me, ”Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford said at a press conference on November 3. Ford noted that the information will be updated daily. The information center includes data on hospital beds, ICU capacity, and test positivity rates."It is critical that everyone has access to this information so that you can take the necessary s...

3Nov

By thecanadianNo Comments

canadian digital service, covid alert, COVID-19, exposure notification apps, Features, General

Former COVID Alert App Developer Talks About Privacy, Misconceptions, And Transparency

As the government encourages everyone to download the COVID Alert exposure notification app amid the second wave of COVID-19, some Canadians still have concerns about the app. Stéphane Boisvert, former lead developer for the Canadian Digital Service (CDS) who worked on the app, spoke with MobileSyrup To clear up some misconceptions about the app, please explain exactly how it works and how it protects user privacy. It is important to note that Boisvert's ideas are his own and do not reflect the Canadian government or the CDS. "It is open software that is created with public funds, so the public should have access to it" As some Canadians are still debating whether to download the app, something that many people may be unaware of is the fact that COVID Alert is open source and available...

30Oct

By thecanadianNo Comments

Business, covid alert, COVID-19, exposure notification API, Healthcare

Updated COVID-19 Exposure Notification API May Reduce False Positives and Increase Overall Alerts

Apple and Google plan to update their joint exposure notification project, which forms the backbone of various COVID-19 exposure alert applications like Canada's own COVID alert, with more sophisticated risk assessment capabilities. In summary, the changes should allow the Exposure Notification API to quantify 'trusted' and 'unreliable' signals and use new algorithms to reduce the number of false positives. It could also mean that more people receive alerts about possible exposures to COVID-19. To get started, it's important to understand how the post notification system now works to put your changes in perspective. Currently, the API created by Apple and Google works by transmitting random, anonymous and non-identifying codes over Bluetooth from your smartphone. Other nearby pho...

27Oct

By thecanadianNo Comments

Apps & Games, COVID-19, Data, Exercise, Fitbit, News

Fitbit data shows large increase in stress relief activities such as meditation during COVID-19

Fitbit released a wealth of data on how people's fitness habits have changed during the pandemic and, surprise! - the number of active minutes has decreased since June 2020. However, despite that, some things have changed for the better. Although active minutes decreased, Fitbit data shows that training intensity has increased in most groups, excluding men ages 18-49. Globally, users have done more stress relieving activities like meditation, yoga, and Pilates. Specifically, meditation increased by 2,900 percent compared to last year, according to Fitbit. The increase highlights the collective need to manage stress. Additionally, Fitbit data shows that new activities have gained popularity. The company saw "surprising" increase...

19Oct

By thecanadianNo Comments

Apps & Games, Canada, COVID-19, News, Phones

40 Percent of Canadians Spend More on Phones Online During Pandemic: Statistics from Canada

Forty-four percent of Canadians have spent more on online technology during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Statistics Canada. The data come from Statistics Canada's 'Canadian Perspectives Survey Series' (CPSS), which has been polling a panel of Canadians since March, and its fifth and most recent iteration took place in September. Based on the latest findings, 42 percent of Canadians indicated they spent more on streaming video services, and 40 percent spent more on smartphones. Additionally, 34 percent of Canadians spent more on their mobile and home Internet connections. In contrast, 96 percent of respondents reported spending less (or nothing) on short-term rentals, domestic and / or international travel. Outside of online spending, the CPSS found that 42 percent of Cana...

16Oct

By thecanadianNo Comments

Canada, COVID-19, Entertainment Software Association of Canada, Features, General, Video Games

How the Canadian Video Game Industry is Addressing COVID-19

During the last few months, it is has been well documented how game developers quickly switched to remote work amid the COVID-19 outbreak. And while working from home is not without its challenges, it does at least help ensure that game creators can continue their craft safely. Meanwhile, the industry has benefited from massive spikes in game sales and activity in ongoing multiplayer titles. Addressing Rising COVID-19 Cases Among Youth But what about the people who actually play these games? How have they been handling the pandemic? That's exactly what #CrushCOVID campaign intended to address. Conceived by the Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC), the country's gaming industry lobby group, and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), #CrushCOVID is designed to promo...

11Oct

By thecanadianNo Comments

canalys, COVID-19, News, pc shipments, Tablets & Computers

Global PC Shipments Hit 10-Year High in Q3 2020 – Report

Global PC shipments rose 13 percent in the third quarter of 2020 in a new 10-year record, according to a new report from analytics firm Canalys. The report notes that 79.2 million units were shipped in the quarter, which is the most growth the market has seen in the last decade. Canalys highlights that the growth can be attributed to continued demand during the second wave of COVID-19, as some countries and companies continue to invest in longer-term transitions to remote work. “Shipments of laptops and mobile workstations grew 28.3 percent year-on-year. This is in contrast to desktop and desktop workstations, whose shipments were down 26%, according to the report.Lenovo ranked first in the PC market with more than 19 million sh...

9Oct

By thecanadianNo Comments

Apps & Games, covid alert, COVID-19, News

BC to begin using the federal COVID alert app in the coming weeks

As more Canadian provinces start using the Federal COVID Alert app to help notify people if they have been exposed to COVID-19, the bigger question is when will all provinces adopt the platform. Two notable strongholds have been Quebec and British Columbia, and the former province decided to adopt the app last week. Now in a recent tweet. the British Columbia government says it is "in process."@lsoNation It is in process. “It is an ongoing discussion. The team with the federal government is working with individual provinces on a sequential basis, so we are on that list, but we are also working with them to make some adjustments that meet our needs. ... "1/2 - BC Government News (@BCGovNews) October 9, 2020The tweet, writte...

9Oct

By thecanadianNo Comments

Apps & Games, cbc, COVID-19, gaming, Minecraft, News

CBC to host a live Minecraft event for tweens to ask about health and back to school

CBC has announced that it will host a special live in-game event at Minecraft to help educate Canadian tweens on health and back-to-school procedures. On October 10 at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT, Minecraft Players can participate in the 'CBC Kids News Live Back to School Event in Minecraft' by going to the 'CBC Kids News World' game area. This venue is modeled after the CBC Toronto Broadcast Center and will feature a virtual live studio recording hosted by Elijah Sandiford, 15-year-old CBC Kids News contributor, and GeminiTay, a 24-year-old YouTube creator from Newfoundland. Sandiford and GeminiTay will speak with pediatrician and epidemiologist Dr. Caroline Quach-Thanh, who will also be available to answer children's questions live. ...