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 26, Vancouver Is Awesome shared 26 Vancouver flights that were added to the list of potential COVID-19 public exposures.
Since then, the following nine new flights have been added to the BCCDC's list of affected flights:
- May 12: Air Canada 305, Montreal to Vancouver (Rows 12 - 17)
- May 19, Air Canada 246, Vancouver to Edmonton (Rows 12 - 17)
- May 19, Air Canada/Jazz 8547, Winnipeg to Vancouver (Rows 13 - 19)
- May 23, Flair Flight 8312, Toronto to Vancouver (Rows 28 - 32)
- May 23, Air Canada/Jazz 8205, Vancouver to Prince George (Rows 16 - 20)
- May 24: Air Canada 119, Toronto to Vancouver (Rows 27 - 30)
- May 26, Air Canada Flight 997, Mexico City to Vancouver (Rows 12 - 14)
- May 27: Turkish Airlines 75, Istanbul to Vancouver (Rows 17 - 22)
- May 28: Japan Airlines 18, Tokyo to Vancouver (Rows 42 - 48)
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.
