THUNDER BAY – Passengers on five recent Thunder Bay flights could have been exposed to COVID-19, federal health authorities advise.
The flights in question arrived at or departed the Thunder Bay Airport on May 4 and 5, according to a a federal database that tracks potential exposures on board public transportation including flights, buses, trains, and cruise ships.
The first reported instance involves Wasaya Airlines flight 925 from Sioux Lookout to Thunder Bay on May 4. Affected rows are listed as “unknown,” indicating either the infected passenger’s seat couldn’t be verified, or the exposure involved an infected member of the flight crew.
Passengers in rows 1 to 4 on Wasaya flight 470 from Pickle Lake to Thunder Bay on May 5 could also have been exposed to the virus.
Two May 5 Air Canada flights were impacted: Passengers in rows 12 to 18 on flight 384 from Thunder Bay to Toronto, and passengers in rows 20 to 27 on flight 385 from Toronto to Thunder Bay could have been exposed.
A row is considered affected if it's three rows behind or in front of a row (two rows for business class) where a passenger is confirmed to have COVID-19, and was on board during their infectious period.
Lastly, passengers on board Bearskin Airlines flight 319 from Thunder Bay to Sioux Lookout on May 5 could also have been exposed.
The five flights join at least four other Thunder Bay flights previously flagged for potential COVID-19 exposure through April and May.
Affected passengers are advised to contact their local health unit, self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days, and immediately self-isolate if they develop any symptoms.
Those who have travelled are recommended to periodically check the federal website for two weeks afterwards.
