Coronavirus and COVID-19 (updated Feb. 25)

Feb. 25 – The Public Health Agency of Canada is closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19 in other countries

For returning travellers, “The risk to Canadian travellers abroad is generally low but will vary depending on the destination.”

Risk Within Canada:

• The risk of spread of this virus within Canada remains low at this time. 
• Confirmed cases of COVID-19 do not change the public health response to date, as all necessary protocols and measures are already activated and in place. 
• Current evidence suggests person-to-person spread is efficient when there is close contact.
• Canada has no direct flights from Wuhan and the volume of travellers arriving indirectly from Wuhan is low. China has also taken extraordinary measures including conducting exit screenings, and have closed all the flights and transportation from Wuhan and some other affected cities.
• PHAC has multiple systems in place to prepare for, detect and respond to prevent the spread of infectious disease and are confident in the capacity to rapidly detect and prevent further spread of COVID-19 in Canada.
• Public health risk is continually reassessed as new information becomes available.

On testing incidents under investigation

• Our top priority is the health and safety of Canadians. 
• The Public Health Agency of Canada’s National Microbiology Lab (NML) in Winnipeg is performing diagnostic testing for the novel coronavirus. 
• The NML is working in close collaboration with provincial and territorial public health laboratories to ensure that persons under investigation for the novel coronavirus are confirmed or ruled out through laboratory testing.
• Multiple provincial public health laboratories can now test for the novel coronavirus with a very high degree of accuracy, and their results undergo additional testing at NML because this is a previously unknown virus and it is good practice to use additional tests to provide further confirmation of initial laboratory findings. 
• Cases that are identified through provincial/territorial testing are managed from a public health and infection control perspective in the same manner as cases confirmed by the NML.
• The Public Health Agency of Canada is in close contact with provincial and territorial counterparts.
• We will keep Canadians informed as the situation evolves

Feb. 12 – World Health Organization (WHO) names illness caused by the new coronavirus

The WHO announced on Feb. 11 that COVID-19 is the illness caused by the new coronavirus. This doesn’t change any of the responses to the virus, and the Public Health Agency of Canada continues to deem the public health risk as low. On Feb 11, medical response to an Air Canada aircraft resulted in the transport of one guest to hospital, but health officials determined there was no connection to the virus. For general questions, the YYC Emergency Response Services Department’s email address is: emergency@yyc.com. Please note that this email is monitored Monday through Friday during business hours. Should you have an urgent inquiry outside of these hours, please contact the IOC at 403-735-1300 ext. 5

Feb. 3 - Enhanced screening measures implemented in CBSA in Calgary.

Our partners at Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) have now implemented some enhanced screening measures at all major Canadian airports, including Calgary. In completing declarations electronically on the PIK and Nexus kiosks guests will be asked:

Have you been in the Province of Hubei, China in the past 14 days?

Although YYC does not have any direct flights from China, CBSA is taking this proactive approach to assist in identifying any suspected cases. CBSA has posted this video to its social media to explain the change.

Jan 29 - Today, the Public Health Agency of Canada held an information session for Team YYC.

For more informatin on Coronavirus:

Website: Canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html

Call: 1-833-784-4397

Email: Emergency@yyc.com

Follow Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam on twitter.com/CPHO_Canada

Jan. 27 –  Public Health Agency of Canada provides updates on Coronavirus

The Public Health Agency of Canada continues to monitor the situation regarding the novel Coronavirus. On Jan. 25, the province of Ontario announced a presumptive travel-related case of 2019-nCoV. The patient, who recently returned from Wuhan, China, is isolated and under care in hospital. All necessary precautions are being taken to prevent the spread of infection.

At this time, the risk to Canada and Canadians is low. The situation is evolving and PHAC will provide Canadians with new information when known. We will provide updates as we receive them.

Jan. 21 – What TeamYYC need to know about the Coronavirus

For a number of weeks, our airport team has been working closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to be proactive about a new coronavirus. We take the health and safety of our guests and staff very seriously here at YYC, so we are taking direction from the PHAC and cooperating with Alberta Health Services (AHS) to closely monitor the situation. Currently, our normal screening procedures are in place for arriving international guests as we do not have any direct flights from China.

Visit these sites PHAC, AHS (Advisory), AHS website (click on North Zone for latest updates) or World Health Organization for the latest information regarding the Coronavirus. 

For more information, see the attached PDF on protecting yourself from the spread of germs.