Google Canada has launched a new Doodle today encouraging Canadians to wear a mask to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
The Doodle says, ‘Wear a mask. Save lives,’ is a public service announcement from Google and the Public Health Agency of Canada. Clicking on the Doodle results in a search for “covid-19 prevention” and the PSA landing page, which reminds people to wear a mask, clean your hands and keep a safe distance.
“Masks can help prevent the spread of the virus from the person wearing the mask to others. Masks alone do not protect against COVID-19, and should be combined with physical distancing and hand hygiene. Follow the advice provided by your local health authority,” explains the page.
Google and Apple are sharing their Exposure Notification API with national governments, to be implemented into contact tracing and notification apps. The API allows anonymous Bluetooth “handshakes” between smartphones, allowing people to get notified if they have been potentially exposed to COVID-19.
Canada launched the COVID Alert app for iOS and Android using this API last Friday, and the app has since been downloaded over 1.1 million times. The government also partnered with Rogers, Telus and Bell to text Canadians in Ontario over the weekend to encourage them to download the app.
