April 17, 2020

COVID-19 Update: Requirement to Wear Non-Medical Masks or Face Coverings

WHITEHORSE, YT - 17 April 2020 - New face covering requirements for air travellers

 

Effective 20 April 2020, the Government of Canada requires all passengers to have a removable, non-medical mask or face covering to cover their mouth and nose during air travel.

During the check-in process, passengers are required to demonstrate they have the necessary non-medical mask or face covering. Air North, Yukon’s Airline will have a limited supply of masks but encourage all passengers to bring their own. Passengers who are not wearing the proper face coverings may be denied entry to the sterile area of the airport or denied boarding.

In support of this measure to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Air North is encouraging passengers to wear non-medical masks or face coverings whenever possible during the air travel process. At minimum, passengers are required to wear protective face covering under the following circumstances: 

  • At Canadian airport screening checkpoints, where the screeners cannot always keep a two metre distance between themselves and the passenger;
  • During flight when 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 a public health official

Non-medical masks or face coverings should not be worn under the following circumstances:

  • Children under two years of age;
  • Passengers with breathing difficulties unrelated to COVID-19;
  • At the boarding gate, after handing documents to the Passenger Service Agent, a passenger will be asked to step back to an appropriate distance and lower their face covering for identity verification. After the verification is complete, the passenger must re-cover their mouth and nose before collecting their documents;
  • During the flight, when the safety of the person could be endangered by wearing a face covering; or when the person is eating, drinking or taking oral medications; and
  • At the Customs-controlled area of the airport. Travellers will need to lower their face covering to have their photo taken at the Primary Inspection Kiosk or when asked to do so by a Canada Border Services Agency officer or a Public Health Agency of Canada and/or provincial or territorial official.

For more information on face covering requirements for air travellers, click here. 

For more information on the use of non-medical masks and face coverings, please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/prevention-risks/about-non-medical-masks-face-coverings.html