The additional flights were added to the BCCDC's public exposures list early Friday evening.
- Aug 30: Air India 1143, Delhi to Vancouver (Rows not reported)
- Sep 1: Lufthansa 761, Frankfurt to Vancouver (Rows not reported)
- Sep 3: United Airlines 5351, San Francisco to Vancouver (Rows 18-24)
- Sep 6: Air India 1143, Delhi to Vancouver (Rows not reported)
- Sep 7: WestJet 112, Vancouver to Calgary (Rows 4-10)
The announcement came following a similar warning earlier in the day about three Vancouver-bound flights that were flagged by the public health agency for potential exposure to the virus.
Any travellers returning to B.C. are encouraged to check the BCCDC's website for updates about flights identified for risk of exposure. Those travelling from outside of Canada, meanwhile, must arrive prepared with a 14-day self-isolation plan. Passengers on any domestic flights listed as having carried a COVID-19 case are encouraged to self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days.
The country's two largest airlines ended their onboard seat distancing policies on July 1, raising health concerns amid a pandemic that has devastated the travel industry.
The abandonment of those policies has left many social media users wondering why airlines are permitted to ignore physical distancing protocols while other businesses must adhere to them, while others simply say they won't travel with airlines that don't have distancing policies in place.
The Government of Canada still recommends that Canadians avoid all travel outside of the country until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a global travel advisory, the government notes that "This advisory overrides other risk levels on this page, with the exception of any risk levels for countries or regions where we advise to avoid all travel."
- With files from The Canadian Press, Lindsay William-Ross and Elana Shepert
