The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) says it has identified a technical issue with the ArriveCAN entry app that mistakenly notified some people to self-quarantine.
“This issue affected less than three percent of users and appeared to be related to iOS (Apple) devices,” according to a statement released Friday by the Department of Public Safety. “A technical solution was identified and implemented on the evening of July 20.”
The app, which is mandatory for all travelers entering the country and collects public health data before and after entry, is designed to help the CBSA process travelers more efficiently and securely, explains the communicated.
The issue comes shortly after politicians called for the app to be stopped, pointing to travel delays, unnecessary technology dependency and the general unreliability of digital services. In June, two Ontario mayors whose towns depend on cross-border tourism called for the federal government to stop forcing travelers to navigate the app, which they say deters U.S. travelers from entering the app. the country.
The statement claims that during the period of the glitch, 99.52% of those traveling by air and 89.20% of those traveling by land used the app successfully.
“The CBSA is working hard to help travelers use ArriveCan and keep up with changing requirements,” he says.
The statement adds that “it is important to emphasize that CBSA and PHAC officials – not the enforcement – are the ones who determine whether a person is subject to public health restrictions and should be placed in quarantine”.