Canadian government mandating temperature checks at airports

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Published June 12, 2020 at 4:42 pm

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At a June 12 press conference, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) will remain in long-term care homes in Ontario and Quebec until June 26.

The prime minister also announced that the federal government will be mandating temperature checks at Canadian airports. 

“The women and men [in the CAF] are doing a remarkable job and their help is still needed,” Trudeau said. 

Members of the CAF have been providing assistance in hard-hit long-term care homes since Ontario and Quebec called for help from the federal government to manage massive outbreaks in multiple institutions. Last month, the military released a disturbing report regarding instances of abuse and neglect in at least five long-term care homes in Ontario.

In Canada, 82 per cent of all COVID-19-related deaths have occurred among seniors living in long-term care homes. 

In regards to airline safety, Trudeau said Canada will now require temperature screenings for all passengers flying in or to Canada. Passengers departing Canadian airports for either international or domestic destinations will also be subject to a temperature screening. 

According to the government, temperature screening will be introduced through a phased approach. The first three phases are aimed at arriving international travellers and departures from Canadian airports. 

Phase 1: By June 30, 2020, all air operators will be required to conduct temperature screenings of all passengers travelling to Canada prior to departure from international or transborder points of departure.

Phase 2: By the end of July, temperature screening stations will be placed in the departure section of the four major airports that are currently identified as the only Canadian airports for international travel (Montréal, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver).

Phase 3: By September 2020, temperature screening stations will be in place in the departure sections of the next 11 busiest airports in Canada (St. John’s, Halifax, Québec City, Ottawa, Toronto – Billy Bishop, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Kelowna, Victoria).

For international flights to Canada, air operators will be conducting the temperature screening at the point of departure.

If a traveller has a fever and is unable to present a medical certificate that provides a non-COVID-19 reason for the elevated temperature, they will be denied boarding and will be given direction on how to re-book with the air operator in 14 days, as well as how they can seek additional health information.

All employees and personnel that enter or work in the restricted area of the airport will be subject to temperature screening procedures as well.

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