VIDEO: Screening for COVID-19 on arrivals at Kelowna International Airport

People arriving at Kelowna International Airport are not being given thermal screening like travellers in some parts of the world are, but there are safeguards in place.

When Tanya Tishenko flew home to the Okanagan today, she was questioned twice. She was asked about her health. First, as she left Puerto Vallarta, and then before she boarded her final leg from Seattle to Kelowna. "I was asked if I had a cough," she said."I was asked if I had to be hospitalized for the last 14 days."

Senior Operations Manager, Phillip Elchitz said the job of keeping an eye out for people who might be sick is in the hands of the Canada Border Service Agents who are working under the direction of the Public Health Authority of Canada.

"They're asked a multiple of questions, as well they are asked where they've been, where they've travelled to. They're also handing out pamphlets with regard to the requirement to self-isolate for 14 days."

People are also being asked about the reason for their trip, added Elchitz. Currently, travel is supposed to be restricted to essential business purposes. "If people are arriving for pleasure travel or for tourism, they will be turned away and they will be sent back to the United States."

Meanwhile, the airport itself has altered its operations in order to encourage and maximize social distancing. That has been made easier by a huge reduction in traffic going through YLW. "The building itself is designed to process about 5 thousand passengers a day," he said. "Right now we're processing less than a thousand passenger a day."

There are lines on the floor to remind passengers to keep their distance and there are visual reminders and public address announcements to re-enforce it. Most of the check-in kiosks have been turned off so that people can use the remaining ones while staying two metres apart. "We have constant extra cleaning," said Elchitz. "We'll continue to do that until this passes."