Several prominent industry associations have thrown their support behind a COVID-19 contact-tracing app developed by the provincial and federal governments.

Members of the Construction and Design Alliance of Ontario (CDAO) and the Construction Employers Coalition (CEC) announced on August 7 that they are encouraging as many Ontarians as possible to download the COVID Alert app developed by the public sector.

The app uses Bluetooth technology to record anonymous data about interactions between people. It can measure the distance between users and the amount of time spent in contact with one another. Doing so builds a detailed log of a user’s interactions, while the app can be used to notify any contacts if a user has tested positive for COVID-19.

According to public health officials and the Canadian government, the effectiveness of tracing apps greatly increases when more than 55 percent of the population use them on a daily basis.

The CEC and CDAO members say COVID Alert app is the best option as it:

• can be used at work, home or anywhere in between to ensure maximum coverage and protection;
• is easy to access, available across Canada, and in all sectors of the economy; and
• protects privacy through best data management practices.

“Health and safety is about eliminating hazards. Where a hazard cannot be eliminated, a mitigation plan must be put into place. Tracing apps expand our ability to manage COVID-19, but will only work if and when a significant portion of the population participate at home, work and play,” said David Frame, chair of the CEC and director of government relations at the Ontario General Contractors Association.

The broader construction sector took an early leadership role in March when the pandemic hit Ontario and has carried that momentum into the summer. To date, construction has led the way with respect to safety policies, practices, and an overall investment in workers. These actions have paid off and construction has kept workers safe and is at the forefront of our economic recovery.

Sandro Perruzza, chair of the CDAO adds, “The construction and design industries realized early on that the health and safety of workers is the foundation of any economic recovery. Focusing on the 3Ts (testing, tracking, tracing) will allow Canada to stop reacting and start managing COVID-19.”

While numbers have been consistently improving in Ontario, other jurisdictions highlight how short-term success can be easily derailed when complacency sets in. Richard Lyall, chair of the CDAO Economic Recovery Committee, says, “Construction led the charge ensuring workers and worksites are safe. In order to keep this momentum, we need to guard against complacency and prepare for a potential second wave. Effective tracing in which greater than 55 percent of the public participate will support health and safety and the Ontario economy.”

Contact tracing apps are becoming increasingly prevalent on the market. Some, such as TraceSCAN, are wearable solutions. The app was developed in Waterloo and is being piloted by members of the Labourers’ International Union of North America on a jobsite in Hamilton. The technology received an endorsement from the provincial government for use in workplaces where mobile technology is restricted.

As new technology is introduced, the CDAO and CEC stress that all other apps or devices, including wearables, must integrate with the COVID Alert notification app. Only when a sufficient percentage of the population is using a common platform will we have the means to effectively trace and stop the spread.