Canada to ramp up COVID-19 testing and tracing, working closely with Apple, Google on mobile app

Canada’s total cases rose to 81,765 on Friday, and deaths were up less than 2 percent to 6,180. Canada will ramp up COVID-19 testing and contact tracing as it gradually lifts restrictions and is working closely with Apple and Google on a mobile phone app to help, the prime minister said on Friday. In his daily news conference, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government was already helping Ontario, the most populous province, with contact tracing and was open to do the same for the other 12 provinces and territories. But on Friday the prime minister said the government would “strongly recommend” the use of an app as soon as Apple and Google offer their tracing technology. We’re working closely with Apple and Google on the update,” Trudeau said.