If you’re travelling out of Victoria International Airport — or work behind security lines there — be prepared for a mandatory temperature check.
The federal government has expanded temperature screening for air travellers to 11 additional Canadian airports. The list for screening already included Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal airports, which have had the requirement since July 30.
Transport Canada said in a statement that passengers who have a temperature of 38 degrees or greater and do not have a medical certificate explaining a medical or physical condition that would result in an elevated temperature are not permitted to continue their travel and are asked to re-book after 14 days.
A second temperature screening will be administered if an elevated temperature is detected. Denial of boarding will be based on an elevated temperature reading using technology approved by Transport Canada.
Transport Canada said the additional measures will help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus via air travel.
Departing passenger, airport workers and flight crews will all be subject to temperature screening.
Besides Victoria, the airports where temperature screening has been in effect since Sept. 23 include St. John’s, Halifax, Québec City, Ottawa, Toronto-Billy Bishop, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Edmonton and Kelowna.
The temperature checks are conducted by Canadian Air Transport Security Authority personnel as part of departure screening procedures. Passengers were already subject to health screening questions and required to wear masks.
The federal agency said symptomatic passengers, those who have been refused boarding in the past 14 days due to a medical reason related to the COVID-19 virus, and those who are the subject of a provincial, territorial or local public health order will be denied boarding.
Boarding will also be denied to passengers who refuse to answer questions related to the health check, refuse to have their temperature taken or refuse to comply with an instruction given by a gate agent or a crew member with respect to wearing a non-medical mask or face covering.
Passengers providing a false or misleading declaration could face penalties of up to $5,000.
dkloster@timescolonist.com
