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BCCDC identifies warns of COVID-19 exposure on 7 Vancouver flights

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.
Elana Shepert
Elana Shepert
pandemic-flight-feature
Photo: Person wearing face mask on flight / Getty Images

The BC Centre for Disease Control warns airline passengers that they may have been exposed to COVID-19 on several recent Vancouver 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 Vancouver flights. 

The following international flights have been added to the list of affected flights:

  • July 23: Air Canada 575 from Los Angeles to Vancouver (Rows 15-21)
  • July 26: Air Canada 007 from Vancouver to Hong Kong (Rows 22-28)
new-2020-07-30 International FlightsPhoto: BCCDC

The following domestic flights have been added to the list of affected flights:

  • July 20: Air Canada 305 from Montreal to Vancouver (Rows 34-37)
  • July 24: Air Canada 311 from Montreal to Vancouver (Rows 1-4 and 12-14)
  • July 27: Air Canada 204 from Vancouver to Calgary (Rows 18-24)
  • July 29: Air Canada 343 from Ottawa to Vancouver (Row 4 and rows 12-17)
domestic-flights-exposuresPhoto: BCCDC

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 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.