Travellers flying in and out of Canadian airports will soon be subjected to a mandatory temperature check.
The announcement made by Transport Minister Marc Garneau June 12, applies to both domestic and international flights.
“We have already introduced measures to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19, including mandating face coverings and publishing health guidance for the air industry,” said Garneau. “Mandatory temperature screenings are yet another measure in our multi-layered approach to help protect the safety of the travelling public and air industry workers.”
The government says temperature screening will be implemented in phases over the next few months.
For international and transborder flights to Canada, air operators must conduct temperature screenings at the point of departure by June 30, unless the local authority has an equivalent measure in place. This is in addition to inquiring about virus symptoms prior to boarding.
Within Canada, temperature screening stations will be placed in the departure section of the country’s four major airports (Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver) by the end of July. Remaining airports will have stations on-site by September. Canadian Air Transport Security Authority screeners will conduct passenger temperature checks as part of departure screening procedures. All travellers will continue to be asked health check questions and required to wear face masks or coverings.
Employees and personnel that enter or work in the restricted area of the airport will also be subject to temperature screening procedures.
The federal government says passengers who have an elevated temperature and do not have a medical certificate to explain a medical or physical condition that would result in an elevated temperature, will not be permitted to continue their travel and will be asked to re-book after 14 days.
