YLW to begin temperature screening all passengers

Kelowna International Airport (YLW) is implementing another new policy to try and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Starting on Wednesday, Sept. 23, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) will be temperature screening all passengers before they take off from YLW.

Airport Director Sam Samaddar says it’s an added layer of precaution to protect employees, passengers and the community as they make an effort to help prevent air travel from being a source of spread for the virus.

Starting on September 23, @Transport_gc will require all departing passengers and employees working post security at YLW to undergo a temperature check at @catsa_gc screening checkpoints. Find out more about these new measures at: https://t.co/wNY8vKO1Au pic.twitter.com/z2SaNv6BV7

— Kelowna International Airport (@ylwkelowna) September 16, 2020

“Many of the airlines operating at YLW and at airports across the country already conduct temperature checks of their passengers,” Samaddar explained.

“By integrating this process into pre-board security screening, passengers will be more accustomed to the new screening process and know what to expect when they are ready to travel.”

A temperature screening station will be placed in the pre-board security screening area.

Passengers will have their temperature checked by either a temperature scanning camera stationed two metres away or by a contactless handheld thermometer.

Anyone with a temperature over 38°C on the first screening will be asked to wait for 10 minutes in a nearby designated waiting area.

If the second reading shows a temperature over 38°C again, the passenger will not be permitted to travel and will be asked to re-book sometime more than two weeks in the future.

The only exception will be those who can present a medical certificate that indicates an elevated temperature is not due to COVID-19.

Employees working in the restricted area of the airport will be subject to the exact same process by CATSA personnel.

“Temperature screening at YLW is part of the Government of Canada’s phased approach to protect Canadians and help prevent air travel from being a source for the spread of the virus during the pandemic,” said a release from the City of Kelowna.

“On July 30, temperature screening stations were placed in the departure section of the four major airports: Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montréal.”

YLW isn’t the only airport introducing temperature screening by Sept. 30, as it’ll also be implemented at airports in St. John’s, Halifax, Québec City, Ottawa, Toronto – Billy Bishop, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Edmonton and Victoria.

This new policy is in addition to other measures already in place at YLW, which includes health screening questions and mandatory face coverings.