20 flights, 120 rows potentially affected land with COVID-19 at Pearson Airport in Mississauga

Recorded flights with COVID-19 cases have shot up this week to 23 flights at Mississauga’s Pearson Airport, according to federal travel data.

Seven of the flights were domestic (within Canada), with two departing and five landing at the airport between August 3 and 8.

The other 16 flights were international, with one departing and 15 landing in that same timeframe (full flight list here).

At least 90 rows are affected by COVID-19, with several flights reporting unknown rows.

Earlier this week, Canada began welcoming fully vaccinated Americans back across the border, with Pearson Airport warning travellers to be ready for heavy delays due to the influx of travellers.

According to the federal government, a row is considered affected if it’s three rows (two rows for business class) behind or in front of a row where a seated person is confirmed to have COVID-19 during a period when they may have been infectious.

“Unknown” rows may be reported if the row number for the person confirmed to have COVID-19 can’t be validated, or if a member of the crew is confirmed to have COVID-19.

Passengers who were sitting in the affected rows — or all passengers on the flight if rows aren’t specified — are advised to self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days and contact public health if they start showing symptoms of the virus.

Fully vaccinated Canadians returning to Mississauga’s Pearson Airport are no longer required to quarantine for two weeks.

All flight data is listed on the federal government’s website.

Photo courtesy of The Canadian Press