By Chris Brown

New checkpoints

Alberta increases public health measures for returning international travellers

May 20, 2020 | 12:49 PM

Alberta is strengthening public health measures for international travellers arriving at the province’s two major international airports.

Travellers arriving at the Calgary or Edmonton international from outside of Canada will be required to pass through a provincial checkpoint where they will need to complete an Alberta isolation plan. Travellers will also undergo a thermal scan, as elevated body temperature is a potential symptom of COVID-19.

The government calls them the strongest public health measures in the country for international travellers.

A traveller’s isolation plan must detail their planned site of isolation for the mandated 14 days, how they will get there and how they will get essential items for the period. Provincial officials will offer some assistance if needed and will follow-up with travellers after three days to ensure public health orders are being followed.

A similar checkpoint will be established at the Coutts border crossing as part of the second phase of the plan.

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“Countries like Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea have been successful at mitigating the spread because they took immediate action securing their borders long before the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic,” said Premier Jason Kenney. “I’ve been clear it was irresponsible for Canada to wait so long to close our borders, especially from countries with high levels of infection. While Alberta does not control who can fly here, we will deploy a more rigorous approach in screening international arrivals. These measures are critical to ensure we continue to flatten the curve and keep Albertans safe.”

Chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw adds that controlling the spread of COVID-19, especially travel-related cases, is a key step in protecting Albertans and continuing to flatten the curve.

The two airports will also implement enhanced cleaning protocols for arrival lounges and high-touch surfaces.

The government encourages all travellers to download the ABTraceTogether app when they arrive in Alberta.

The global travel advisory remains in effect, and the Canada-U.S. border remains closed to all non-essential traffic.