The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) is warning airline passengers they may have been exposed to coronavirus (COVID-19) on multiple recent Vancouver flights.
On May 31, Vancouver Is Awesome shared nine Vancouver flights that were added to the list of potential COVID-19 public exposures.
Since then, the following 12 new flights have been added to the BCCDC's list of affected flights:
- May 19: Air Canada 311, Montreal to Vancouver (Rows 19-25)
- May 27, Lufthansa 492, Frankfurt to Vancouver (Rows 15-22)
- May 28, Aeromexico 696, Mexico City to Vancouver (Rows 15-19)
- May 29, Air Canada 119, Toronto to Vancouver (Rows 42-26 and not reported)
- May 29: Air Canada 116, Vancouver to Toronto (Rows 37-43)
- May 29: Air Canada 556, Vancouver to Los Angeles (Rows 28-34)
- May 30: Turkish Airlines 75, Istanbul to Vancouver (Rows not reported)
- June 1: Air Canada 128, Vancouver to Toronto (Rows 23-29)
- June 1: Sunwing 2854, Kingston, Jamaica to Vancouver (Rows 25-31)
- June 2: WestJet 3139, Vancouver to Calgary (Rows 9-15)
- June 2: Harbour Air 1705, Tofino to Vancouver (Rows not reported)
- June 3: Harbour Air 1710, Vancouver to Tofino (Rows not reported)
Any travellers returning to B.C. are encouraged to check the public health agency's website for updates about flights identified for the risk of exposure.
Currently, the Government of Canada states that you should avoid all travel outside of the country until further notice due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. In a global travel advisory, the government notes that "This advisory overrides other risk levels on this page, with the exception of any risk levels for countries or regions where we advise to avoid all travel."
Coronavirus: What to expect if you arrive in Canada via plane
Travellers entering Canada by air need to book a hotel for a three-night stay upon arrival. They also need to provide a negative result for a COVID-19 molecular test taken within a 72-hour timeframe of their scheduled flight.
All hotels are located near one of the four Canadian airports currently accepting international flights. These accommodations are privately owned and authorized by the Government of Canada.
Some of the hotels offer direct online booking for government-authorized accommodation. For all others, identify that you require accommodation for the COVID-19 mandatory three-night stopover to ensure you are booked correctly.
While in quarantine travellers will have three meals delivered to their rooms but hotel personnel are not permitted inside. Guests will be provided with cleaning supplies.
Find out more information about what to expect during your stay at a government-authorized hotel.
