Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Amandalina Letterio

COVID-19

Kamloops Airport reminds travellers to be prepared for COVID-19 protocols

Dec 14, 2021 | 3:58 PM

KAMLOOPS — Travellers arriving or departing at the Kamloops Airport (YKA) are required to wear a mask and present vaccine verification.

But YKA is reminding travellers to arrive with federal proof of vaccination.

“They might have their provincial one and haven’t uploaded their Canadian one, so that’s one thing we want to remind passengers — is to make sure they’ve uploaded their Canadian proof of vaccination — which they can get through their BC Health access portal,” YKA Managing Director Ed Ratuski said.

Domestic and provincial travellers at YKA say the protocols at the airport are uncomplicated and easy to follow.

“I did have to check online because it’s my first time travelling since the pandemic, but overall, it was fine,” said Kushinga, a man flying to Calgary.

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“I think they’re pretty straight forward. We’ve followed it throughout, we’ve got our booster shots,” added Mary, a woman flying to Vancouver.

However, travelling isn’t as easy for international travellers. Upon arriving back into Canada, international travellers who visited any country — other than the United States — could be randomly selected for COVID-19 testing.

The process is being implemented by the federal government to address the Omicron variant.

“It’s actually heading to 100 per cent testing, but the federal government isn’t set up to handle that yet, but that’s their intent longer term,” Ratuski explained.

International flights headed to Kamloops touch down in Vancouver or Calgary first. People randomly selected for testing will be required to take a test at those locations but will be allowed to board their connecting flight to Kamloops as they await their results.

“International travellers arriving in Kamloops may have to quarantine once they arrive here, until they receive their negative test results from the federal government that they’ve taken in Vancouver or Calgary,” Ratuski said.

One frequent international traveller says the everchanging COVID-19 airport protocols can be confusing.

“I’m travelling to the United States on Saturday, and they changed the protocols, like what, five days, one week ago? So you just need to keep up. You need to keep updated. And of course, it’s overwhelming,” said Giovanna, a woman flying to the US and Brazil.

YKA said travellers should continuously check each country’s COVID-19 protocols online, including Canada, before boarding a flight.