Passengers wear protective face masks arrive at the high speed train station in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020.
Image Credit: (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)
April 17, 2020 - 2:38 PM
All passengers travelling by air as of Monday will be required to carry a non-medical mask to cover their mouth and nose, while bus and ferry passengers are also recommended to keep one handy.
“Canadians should continue to follow public health advice and stay at home if possible," Minister of Transport Marc Garneau said in a press release.
"However, if you need to travel, wearing a face covering is an additional measure you can take to protect others around you, especially in situations where physical distancing guidelines cannot be maintained. Transport Canada will continue to ensure various transportation systems adapt to the most effective, preventive measures to protect Canadians.”
Today Garneau announced new measures requiring all air passengers to have a non-medical mask or face covering to cover their mouth and nose during travel. These measures come into effect at noon EDT on April 20, 2020.
When travelling by air, travellers will be asked to cover their mouth and nose at Canadian airport screening checkpoints, where the screeners cannot always keep two metres of separation between themselves and the traveller.
They will also have to wear them where they cannot physically distance from others, or as directed by the airline employees and when directed to do so by a public health order or public health official.
Aviation passengers on all flights departing or arriving at Canadian airports will also be required to demonstrate they have the necessary non-medical mask or face covering during the boarding process otherwise they will not be allowed to continue on their journey.
When travelling by marine modes of transportation, travellers are encouraged to wear non-medical masks or face coverings whenever possible. In addition, operators of ferries and essential passenger vessels will, when feasible provide public messaging to travellers about the need to have a non-medical mask or face covering to cover their mouth and nose during their journey when they cannot maintain physical distance from others, and that passengers could be subject to denial of boarding should they fail to comply.
Passengers travelling by rail or motor carrier/bus modes of transportation are also strongly encouraged to wear non-medical masks or face coverings as much as possible.
Passengers may be asked by the transportation operator to cover their noses and mouths when physical distancing is not possible.
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