The BC Centre for Disease Control warns airline passengers that they may have been exposed to COVID-19 on three recent Vancouver flights.
Yesterday, the BCCDC added multiple new flights in and out of Vancouver's major airport to the list of potential COVID-19 public exposures.
Now, the following flights have been added to the list of affected flights:
- Aug.11: Sichuan Airlines Flight 8501, Chengdu China to Vancouver (Rows not reported)
- Aug. 12: WestJet Flight 164, Vancouver to Edmonton (Rows 7 - 13)
- Aug. 18: Air Canada Flight 305, Montreal to Vancouver (Rows 24 - 30)
A complete list of all current affected domestic and international flights in and out of British Columbia is provided on the BCCDC public exposures page.
Any travellers returning to B.C. are encouraged to check the B.C. CDC website for updates about flights with an exposure risk, and those travelling from outside of Canada must arrive prepared with a 14-day self-isolation plan.
The country's two largest airlines ended their on-board seat distancing policies on July 1, raising health concerns amid a pandemic that has devastated the travel industry.
On social media, a few people ask why airlines are permitted to ignore physical distancing protocol while other businesses must adhere to them; others simply say they won't travel with airlines that don't have distancing policies in place.
Currently, the Government of Canada states that you should avoid all travel outside of the country until further notice due to the COVID-19 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."
With files from The Canadian Press and Lindsay William-Ross.
