COVID-infected international flights on the rise
Over 161 flights landed at Canadian airports so far this month carrying infected passengers
Author of the article:Bryan Passifiume
Publishing date:Jul 20, 2021 • 4 hours ago • 2 minute read • 17 Comments
The arrivals lineup in Terminal One at Pearson International Airport February 22, 2021.
The arrivals lineup in Terminal One at Toronto's Pearson International Airport, Feb. 22, 2021. PHOTO BY JACK BOLAND /Toronto Sun
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The number of planes landing at Canada’s airports with COVID-19 infected passengers is on the rise.
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Health Canada reported that as of July 20, 161 flights landed carrying passengers who tested positive for COVID-19 so far this month. That’s compared to 111 recorded during the first 20 days of June, and 78 from May 1-20.
Mexican airports are Canada’s largest source of COVID-infected flights aside from the U.S. this month with 14 reported departing from Mexico City and Cancun.
That was followed by Amsterdam and Istanbul with 13, Paris and Doha, Qatar, with 12, London with eight, Casablanca with seven, and the United Arab Emirates with six.
Airports in Cuba saw five departures, three each from Frankfurt, Warsaw, Panama, Pakistan, and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and two flights each from Manila, Seoul, Tokyo, and Tunis, the capital of Tunisia.
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Thirty-seven infected flights from the United States have touched down on Canadian soil so far in July, up from just nine by June 20 and 17 by May 20.
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Travellers from an international flight are directed to the COVID-19 testing area as part of Canada's measures against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, February 24, 2021.
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The arrivals lineup in Terminal One at Toronto's Pearson International Airport, Feb. 22, 2021.
First post-ban Pakistan flight carried COVID-positive passengers: Health Canada
While India banned international flights last month, Canada is one of 13 nations exempted via an 'air bridge' arrangement between the two governments.
India's variant-fuelled second wave coincided with spike in infected flights landing in Canada
International arrivals at Toronto's Pearson airport.
Domestic COVID flights increased in Canada from April to May
The arrivals lineup in Terminal One at Toronto's Pearson International Airport, Feb. 22, 2021.
Drastic drop in COVID infected international flights in May
Travellers flying into Canada — currently only open to citizens, permanent residents and those whose travel is deemed essential — must present a recent negative COVID-19 test before being allowed to board their flight.
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Direct passenger flights from India have been banned from Canadian airports since April 22. wit Those from India arriving via indirect flights must obtain a negative COVID-19 PCR test at their last port of entry before departing for Canada.
Health Canada doesn’t make public the number of infected passengers on each flight, providing only a range within two or three rows of where infected passengers supposedly sat.
As well, Health Canada’s data only relates to the city and airport each flight originated from; no information is available on individual cases, their nationality or when they began their journeys.
Of the four Canadian airports permitted to accept international flights, Toronto currently sits at 74 as of July 20, followed by Montreal with 46, and 20 each from Vancouver and Calgary.
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bpassifiume@postmedia.com
On Twitter: @bryanpassifiume
International flights with COVID-19 infected passengers, as of July 20
USA, all cities: 37
Mexico City and Cancun, Mexico: 14
Amsterdam, The Netherlands: 13
Istanbul, Turkey: 13
Paris, France: 12
Doha, Qatar: 12
London, U.K.: 8
Casablanca, Morocco: 7
Abu Dhabi and Dubai, UAE: 6
Cayo Coco and Varadero, Cuba: 5
Frankfurt, Germany: 3
Panama City, Panama: 3
Karachi and Islamabad, Pakistan: 3
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: 3
Warsaw, Poland: 3
Manila, Philippines: 2
Seoul, South Korea: 2
Tokyo, Japan: 2
Tunis, Tunisia: 2
Cairo, Egypt: 2
Brussels, Belgium: 1
Bogota, Columbia: 1
Kingston, Jamaica: 1
Source: Health Canada
The number of planes landing at Canada's airports with COVID-19 infected passengers is on the rise.
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