The BC Centre for Disease Control warns airline passengers that they may have been exposed to COVID-19 on several recent Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»flights.
Last week, the BCCDC identified two additional flights for possible exposure to the virus. Prior to that, the Government of Canada warned passengers that they may have been exposed to COVID-19 on several Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»flights.
The following international flights have been added to the list of affected flights:
- July 23: Air Canada 575 from Los Angeles to Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»(Rows 15-21)
- July 26: Air Canada 007 from Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»to Hong Kong (Rows 22-28)
The following domestic flights have been added to the list of affected flights:
- July 20: Air Canada 305 from Montreal to Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»(Rows 34-37)
- July 24: Air Canada 311 from Montreal to Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»(Rows 1-4 and 12-14)
- July 27: Air Canada 204 from Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»to Calgary (Rows 18-24)
- July 29: Air Canada 343 from Ottawa to Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»(Row 4 and rows 12-17)
The BCCDC says they list information regarding potential public exposure as they "become aware of flights with an origin or destination in British Columbia with a case of COVID-19 on board."
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 .
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.