COVID-19: Appearance before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health (February 3, 2020)—Media lines

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) works closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to prevent the introduction and spread of communicable diseases into Canada at all international ports of entry into Canada. PHAC is responsible for advising the CBSA of any required enhanced measures to be implemented at the Canadian border to help prevent the introduction and spread of serious infectious diseases into Canada. The CBSA works in close cooperation with PHAC to implement and operationalize the measures PHAC recommends.

Since January 22, 2020, international travellers arriving at the Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto Pearson international airports are being asked an additional health screening question to help identify travellers who may have been in the Hubei province, China. As of February 1, 2020, the question is also being asked at the following international airports in Canada: Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Billy Bishop, Ottawa, Quebec City, and Halifax. This was done in order to ensure that any travellers with recent travel to Hubei province arriving through connecting flights from other international destinations are screened.

Travellers are asked the question on an electronic kiosk (Primary Inspection Kiosks, Automated Border Clearance or NEXUS kiosks) or by a border services officer directly. The aim of the question is to help identify travellers from the Hubei province for closer screening upon their arrival in Canada.

Travellers who have been in the Hubei province are subject to additional screening to help prevent the possible spread of this infectious disease into Canada. Travellers experiencing flu-like symptoms are referred to a PHAC staff member. All others are provided a handout on 2019 novel coronavirus and allowed to continue with their planned travel.

In addition, signage in CBSA arrival halls to raise traveller awareness has been posted in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal airports. Signage has been, or is in the process of being added at the additional airports where enhanced measures are in place.

Note, while there are no direct flights from Hubei province to Canada, these measures are being put in place at these airports due to the high likelihood that travellers on connecting flights from Hubei province will be arriving in Canada at one of these airports. CBSA is working with PHAC and continues to monitor the situation to determine measures at these or other airports.

Entry screening alone is not a guarantee against the possible spread of this new virus but is an important public health tool during periods of uncertainty and part of a multilayered government response strategy.

For more information on the 2019 novel coronavirus, please contact PHAC as they are the lead federal government agency on this issue.

The health and safety of Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers and staff is of the utmost importance to the Agency. The CBSA works closely with Health Canada, our employees and the union to ensure the safety and health of our officers. The Agency has directives and operating procedures that staff are trained on to deal with different scenarios.

We are working closely with Health Canada experts to confirm appropriate measures are in place, including examination of standard operating procedures for dealing with travellers who may exhibit symptoms of illness.

CBSA officers are conducting the initial screening of the travellers and are referring those experiencing flu-like symptoms to a Public Health Agency of Canada staff member for further evaluation. Should a situation arise where a BSO must be in close proximity to a potentially infected traveller for a prolonged period of time and/or be in physical contact with secretions from a person who is ill, then the appropriate personal protective equipment is readily available and used per existing standard operating procedures.

Furthermore, we ensure that we are working with the latest and best available information to protect the health and safety of our employees. The CBSA advises its staff on infection prevention in accordance with advice received from Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

The CBSA will continue to work closely with Health Canada, our employees and the union to ensure the safety and health of our officers.

If pressed on specific measures

At this time, the Public Service Occupational Health Program at Health Canada has recommended that in addition to general precautions such as frequent hand hygiene, being up-to-date with all recommended adult vaccinations per the Canadian Immunization Guide and those outlined for their occupational group per Health Canada's Occupational Health Assessment Guide:

• CBSA officers handling documents and baggage of potentially ill persons wear gloves
• Should a situation arise where a CBSA officer must be in close proximity to a potentially infected traveller for a prolonged period of time, such as escorting the traveller or remaining with them, the officers are to wear gloves, eye/face protection and a mask

In addition to this, occupational health officials are providing training to BSOs at airports with enhanced screening on the appropriate measures to take.

The CBSA continues to make hand sanitizer and PPE, including gloves and masks, available to our officers at all times.

As the situation evolves, the CBSA will continue working closely with Health Canada experts to ensure that appropriate measures are in place, including examination of standard operating procedures for protecting officers when dealing with travellers who may exhibit symptoms of illness.

No – there are no direct flights from Hubei province to Canada, enhanced border measures are in place at Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto Pearson international airports since January 22, 2020. On February 1, 2020, enhanced screening measures were also implemented at the following international airports in Canada: Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Billy Bishop, Ottawa, Quebec City, and Halifax. This was done in order to ensure that any travellers with recent travel to Hubei province arriving through connecting flights from other international destinations are screened.

Requirements are in place to protect the health and safety of Canada. The Quarantine Act requires travellers at a Port of Entry to report to a CBSA border services officer if they are ill upon arrival.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) works closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to prevent the introduction and spread of communicable diseases into Canada at all international ports of entry.

Every traveller entering Canada has a key role to play in protecting Canada. By properly declaring, travellers are helping the CBSA obtain the information needed to help prevent the introduction and spread of serious infectious diseases into Canada.

CBSA officers are trained to observe and assess for signs of illness. If there are any indications that a traveller may be ill, they may be referred to PHAC for further health screening.

For more information, please contact PHAC as they are responsible for administering the Quarantine Act.

When the CBSA is made aware of a traveller showing signs and symptoms of an infectious disease upon arrival in Canada, a CBSA officer will contact a PHAC staff member.

Typically, a CBSA officer is the first point of contact and will conduct a preliminary screening of the traveller based on criteria developed by PHAC (for example, fever or signs of fever, coughing, difficulty breathing, rash and other symptoms).

A PHAC staff member then performs a more detailed assessment by asking additional questions regarding the traveller's symptoms and confirming information about the traveller's travel history and possible exposure to an infectious disease. If deemed necessary, the PHAC staff member can then take the appropriate measures to address the potential public health risk (for example, order the traveller to be transported to hospital to undergo a medical examination and/or to report to the local public health authority).

The health and safety of Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers and staff is of the utmost importance to the Agency.

Yes, a sufficient amount of protective personal equipment is on hand at all times. The CBSA monitors all protective personal equipment (PPE) supplies on a regular basis to ensure they are restocked as necessary.

Note that masks in this situation are adequate and that N95 respirators are not required. These measures are recommended PPE for front line workers at airports.

Yes, hand sanitizer is available for all BSOs at our major international airports as part of regular infection prevention practices.

For information on the provision of hand sanitizer to the public in airports, please contact Transport Canada.

CBSA may provide a mask to an ill traveller or those in direct proximity when deemed necessary.

The widespread distribution of masks to travellers is the responsibility of the airport authority and/or PHAC.

CBSA has been using a specialized cleaning solution to sanitize countertops and other frequently touched areas in the CBSA hall and the arrivals area (washrooms, PHAC assessment rooms and other frequently touched surfaces).

The responsibility of maintaining and cleaning communal areas and kiosks (PIK and NEXUS) falls under the airport authority. We have received confirmation that this is happening on a regular basis throughout the day.

On January 22, 2020, enhanced border measures were implemented at Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal airports due to the high likelihood that travellers on connecting flights from Hubei province would be arriving in Canada at one of these 3 airports. In fact, approximately 97% of travellers arriving from China arrive at the Vancouver, Montreal or Toronto Pearson international airports.

As of February 1, 2020, enhanced screening measures have also been implemented at the following international airports in Canada: Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Billy Bishop, Ottawa, Quebec City, and Halifax. This will ensure that any travellers with recent travel to Hubei province arriving through connecting flights from other international destinations are screened.

While there are no additional measures in place at other ports of entry, standard operating procedures with respect to screening travellers for infectious diseases still apply at all ports of entry. Travellers arriving in Canada are required to report to a CBSA border services officer if they are ill or may have been exposed to an illness.

Border services officers are designated as screening officers under the Quarantine Act and may, in the normal course of their duties, encounter travellers who display specific signs of an illness that might suggest that the traveller is infected with a disease subject to quarantine. These travellers are normally isolated from other travellers to minimize potential exposure to the general public and to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) employees. The border services officer will then contact a PHAC staff member; advise them of the situation, and request further instructions.

Border services officers are permitted, within their roles as screening officers, to ask a traveller any relevant question(s) and/or to request that the traveller present them with any information or record in the traveller's possession that would assist the border services officer in making a determination on whether or not a traveller has or might have an illness subject to quarantine. The Quarantine Act authorizes screening officers to isolate the traveller until a PHAC staff member completes the medical assessment of the traveller.

Should a traveller be seriously ill and in need of immediate medical attention they would be referred to the appropriate local or emergency health authority for medical assessment without delay.

Global Affairs Canada is leading the evacuation efforts of Canadians from Wuhan in the Hubei province of China.

The CBSA is working in close cooperation with Global Affairs Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and other government departments to facilitate the return of the impacted Canadians.

The CBSA is working in lockstep with PHAC to ensure the appropriate health screening measures are in place.

At this time the details of exact screening measures and processing of the travellers arriving on the assisted departure flight are still being finalized, as such the CBSA is not in a position to comment.

The CBSA is committed to taking the appropriate measures to ensure the health and safety of those in Canada and its border services officers.

The CBSA continues to work with PHAC to ensure the appropriate resources are available to support the enhanced screening measures in place at the major international airports in Canada.

On January 22, 2020, enhanced border measures were implemented at Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal airports due to the high likelihood that travellers on connecting flights from Hubei province would be arriving in Canada at one of these 3 airports.

As of February 1, 2020, enhanced screening measures were also implemented at the following international airports in Canada: Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Billy Bishop, Ottawa, Quebec City, and Halifax. This will ensure that any travellers with recent travel to Hubei province arriving through connecting flights from other international destinations are screened.

To note, approximately 97% of travellers arriving from China arrive at Vancouver, Montreal or Toronto Pearson international airports.

Other enhanced border measures may be implemented if required and deemed appropriate given the level of risk identified by PHAC.

The CBSA will always take the appropriate measures to ensure the health and safety of those in Canada.

No, however, measures are in place to identify and isolate a potentially ill traveller from other travellers to minimize the potential for comingling and spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus.

Once a potentially ill traveller is identified, measures are in place to isolate them from comingling with other travellers. At the earliest opportunity ill travellers are escorted to a dedicated area and are processed at a distance from others to reduce the risk of potential transmission. If possible the traveller is provided with a surgical mask along with hand sanitizer.

For more information on the quarantine of travellers please contact PHAC.

No additional measures are in place at the 3 International mail processing centres and there are no delays in the processing of parcels as based on PHAC's latest advice, no risk has been identified due to the coronavirus.

Agents who work in the postal centres protect themselves against any potential risks of infectious diseases according to normal operating procedures.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) works closely with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to prevent the introduction and spread of communicable diseases into Canada at all international ports of entry into Canada. PHAC is responsible for advising the CBSA of any required enhanced measures to be implemented at the Canadian border to help prevent the spread of serious infectious diseases into Canada. The CBSA works in close cooperation with PHAC to implement and operationalize the measures PHAC recommends.

Kiosk cleaning

The CBSA is in communication with the respective airport authorities with regards to the disinfection of the kiosks. That said, the responsibility of cleaning the electronic kiosks rests with the airport authority.

The CBSA and the airport authorities understand the importance of disinfecting and thoroughly cleaning the kiosks and other common surfaces to help reduce the possible spread of a virus.

Use of protective equipment when processing flights from China and risk of punishment

The health and safety of Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers and staff is of the utmost importance to the Agency. As previously mentioned, we work closely with Health Canada, our employees and the union to ensure the safety and health of our officers and to confirm appropriate measures are in place, including examination of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for dealing with travellers who may exhibit symptoms of illness. CBSA management is in constant communication with the Customs and Immigration Union and the Border Services Officers (BSO) to ensure everyone has the most up to date information, is informed of developments, and aware of the required precautionary measures to take.

As part of the SOPs, there are instances when only gloves and frequent handwashing and/or sanitization are recommended, and other times when masks or eye covering are also recommended. Our officers are trained on these SOPs and the proper donning (putting on) and doffing (taking off) of personal protective equipment (PPE). Occupational health officials have also been providing training to BSOs at several designated airports since last weekend (Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto Pearson international airports) and continue to offer training on appropriate measures to take. The CBSA continues to make PPE, including masks, available to our officers at all times.

To this end, nobody is thinking about punishment or reprimand as the main focus is on managing the border and the safety of our officers.

Slowing the flow of travellers from China entering primary inspection lane to better monitor them

The CBSA continues to work with PHAC to ensure the appropriate resources are available to support the enhanced screening measures in place at the 3 airports.

PHAC is looking to supplement their resources on the ground to support the monitoring of travellers arriving from China and to help identify any traveller who are potentially ill at the earliest opportunity.