International Flight Passengers Arriving In Canada

USPA NEWS - As the Nova Scotia Health Authority announced 2 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, there were more warnings of potential  COVID-19 exposure on two flights from Toronto to Halifax. The flights with the potential exposure are Westjet Flight 248 on August 8th, and Air Canada Flight  604 on August 11th.

On Westjet Flight 248 which departed Toronto at 0900 on August 8th, those seated in rows 11 to 15 in seats D, E, and F are likely to be at risk of exposure. On Air Canada Flight 604 which departed Toronto at 0800 on August 11th, those seated in rows 19 to 23 in seats A, B, and C along with rows 29 to 33 seats A, B, C, and D are likely at risk of exposure. While 14 days of self-isolation is mandatory,  Public Health is asking those seated in the specified seats to call 811 for further instruction and advised that anyone exposed to the COVID-19 virus may develop symptoms for up to 14 days or beyond.

It is not just domestic flights that have seen passengers with COVID-19 cases and potential exposure to the virus. During the first week in August, there were at least 18 flights from international destinations that have arrived in Canada that have had passengers that tested positive for COVID-19 after entering Canada. These flights landed in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary. According to the Government of Canada website, these are a list of recent international flights with known  COVID-19 cases: Air Transat flight TS831 from Punta Cana to Toronto on Aug. 1, United Airlines flight UA375 from San Francisco to Vancouver on Aug. 1, Air Transat flight TS893 from Cancun to Montreal on Aug. 1, Air France flight AF034 from Paris to Montreal on Aug. 1, Air Canada flight AC1297 from Punta Cana to Montreal on Aug. 1, Air Canada flight AC1241 from Cancun to Montreal on Aug. 1, Pakistan International Airlines flight PK797 from Lahore to Toronto on Aug. 2, Etihad Airways flight EY141 from Abu Dhabi to Toronto on Aug. 2, Air Canada flight AC992 from Mexico City to Toronto on Aug. 2, United Airlines flight UA3488 from Newark to Toronto on Aug. 3, Qatar Airlines flight QR763 from Doha to Montreal on Aug. 3, Air Canada flight AC7682 from Chicago to Toronto on Aug. 4, Air Canada flight AC849 from London to Toronto on Aug. 4, Air Canada flight AC879 from Switzerland to Toronto on Aug. 4, Tap Air Portugal flight TP253 from Lisbon to Montreal on Aug 4, Delta Airlines flight DL7203 from Atlanta to Calgary on Aug 4, Air Canada flight AC870 from Montreal to Paris on Aug 4, and Aeromexico flight AM680 from Mexico City to Montreal on Aug 4. Please see the following website for the most up to date list. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/latest-travel-health-advice/exposure-flights-cruise-ships-mass-gatherings.html#wb-auto-5

The Government of Canada is urging people against non-essential international travel and the Canadian/USA border remains closed. For those who do travel, even if they do not have visible symptoms of the COVID-19 virus, must self-isolate for a mandatary 14 day period upon arriving in Canada. Wearing a face mask has been mandatory on all flights since April 20th, but now Canadians boarding a flight must provide medical documentation if they have a medical reason to not wear one. Anyone who has been on a flight with a reported risk of exposure to the virus or is feeling unwell upon returning should contact 811 for assessment or further directions