Photo: Government of Alberta

By Shaun Penner

International Travellers

Province announces measures for international travellers to enter Alberta

May 20, 2020 | 12:32 PM

The provincial government is imposing what it is calling the strongest public health measures in Canada for international travellers, as Alberta continues with its economic relaunch from COVID-19.

Premier Jason Kenney announced the measures for travellers returning to Canada from outside the country during a press conference Wednesday morning, saying the measures will be implemented in a phased approach.

The first phase will involve travellers coming through Calgary and Edmonton on international flights being required to go through a provincial checkpoint. All travellers will undergo a temperature scan and will need to provide and complete an Alberta isolation plan.

In their isolation plan, all travellers will have to detail the following:

• If they have an appropriate place to isolate for the required 14 days
• How they will travel to their isolation location
• Their plans for getting essentials like food and medications.
• If required, provincial officials will help travellers access support to meet isolation requirements.

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The province says government officials will check in with all travellers within three days of their arrival to ensure they are following their isolation plan.

“Countries like Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea have been successful at mitigating the spread because they took immediate action securing their borders long before the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic,” said Kenney. “I’ve been clear it was irresponsible for Canada to wait so long to close our borders, especially from countries with high levels of infection.

“While Alberta does not control who can fly here, we will deploy a more rigorous approach in screening international arrivals. These measures are critical to ensure we continue to flatten the curve and keep Albertans safe.”

The second phase of the plan will see a similar checkpoint and protocols created at the Alberta-U.S. land crossing at Coutts. Kenney said the plan is to have the checkpoint available in the next couple weeks.

The province says all travellers are encouraged to download the AB Trace Together app upon arrival in Alberta to enhance the province’s tracing ability.

“As the peak of the virus passes and the world begins to move forward, travel will slowly increase. Controlling the spread of COVID-19, especially travel-related cases, is a key step in protecting Albertans and continuing to flatten the curve,” said Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw. “Protect yourselves and your loved ones by following all public health measures and practising physical distancing and good hygiene.”