As countries start taking extra security measures to welcome visitors again and people start thinking about traveling again, there's a lot to consider.
Not everyone is ready to start traveling, but there are some important trips that people need to make.
The Canadian government still has travel advisories for non-essential travel outside of Canada.
Essential Travel Tips
Dave and I love to travel. This is our business and when the time comes we will be back on the plane ready to explore. Currently Canada requires a mandatory 14 day quarantine upon entering the country. So if you are going on a trip, this is something to consider when making plans. You won't be able to leave the house for two weeks when you return.
But the world understands that there are important reasons to travel. We are months into the pandemic and for various reasons people need to get on the plane again. Hope we all catch up soon!
If you absolutely must leave the country, it's good to know that Canadian Air Transport Safety Authority (CATSA) have implemented a number of measures to ensure your security check experience is as safe and secure as possible.
Here are some tips to follow if you have an important trip coming up.
People traveling by air from and within Canada must carry their own face cover.
By now, we are all used to wearing face coverings.
I actually have a lot of clothes to fit and to wash on a regular basis so I always have new ones when I go to the store.
When flying, face coverings have stricter guidelines than simply going to Sobey's to buy groceries.
The face covering must cover the nose and mouth made of at least two layers of tightly woven fabric (such as cotton or linen), and properly fastened to the head.
Notes: Those with breathing valves or vents, as well as neck guards and bandanas, are not considered acceptable face coverings.
Before you enter the screening checkpoint, a mask is a must placed over the mouth and nose.
Before you fly, be sure to check out Canadian Public Health Agency Guidelines on how to wear a face mask. But here are some tips.
Non-medical Face Masks Should
- allows to breathe easily
- fits securely to head with tie or ear loops
- retains its shape after washing and drying
- replaced as soon as possible if damp or dirty
- comfortable and does not require frequent adjustments
- made of at least 2 layers of tightly woven material (such as cotton or linen)
- large enough to cover nose and mouth completely and comfortably without gaping.
Hand Washing and Sanitation
We learned early on that the best defense against COVID-19 is washing our hands regularly. We don't leave the house without hand sanitizer.
The good news is that while there are hand sanitiser units at checkpoints inside the airport, You can now carry a 355 mL (12 oz) bottle with you. hand sanitizer in your carry-on.
That's an additional 255 mL (8.6 ounces) over the usual fluid limit. To check fluid restrictions further or refresh your memory, you can read the guide here.
Temperature Screening
There are several airports in Canada where you are required to undergo temperature screening before entering the screening checkpoint.
You will not be able to enter if the temperature is above 38 degrees Celsius. (100.4 Fahrenheit.)
Temperature checks are required at the country's 15 busiest airports. You can see entire list here for updates.
Currently, participating airports include Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal, Plus, St. John's, Halifax, Québec City, Ottawa, Toronto-Billy Bishop, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Kelowna, and Victoria.
You should also note that if you show symptoms of illness such as coughing or difficulty breathing, you will be asked to leave the checkpoint.
How to Skip Screening at the Airport
Even the queues changed after COVID. When queuing, you must maintain a distance of two meters from other passengers.
Do not hand over your document to security personnel, instead, you must hold your own electronic or printed boarding pass or other document when it is scanned.
If you are flying domestically, all of the same rules apply. You'll have your temperature checked (if flying out of one of 15 airports), you'll need to wear a face mask, maintain social distancing, and keep all your paperwork.
Aviation is an essential service. They have made sure during the pandemic that people and goods get to where they need to go.
CATSA has taken every possible step to ensure safe air travel. So when you start traveling again, you can be sure that every step is being taken to help you have a safe and happy flight.
you can go to CATSA site for more information, or you can download their app for Android or iOS.
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