Air Canada executives are "encouraged" by initial results of a program of Covid-19 testing for arriving passengers in Toronto.
The program, which began in early September, so far has conducted 13,000 tests of returning passengers, according to Air Canada. Of those, fewer than 1 percent tested positive, and more than 80 percent of those testing positive were identified in the initial test. The remainder were identified in a second test seven days after arrival, and none were identified in additional testing 14 days after arrival.
The carrier was conducting the test in part to test the effectiveness of quarantine requirements and restrictions.
"Rapid testing is also a means to enable governments to relax current blanket travel restrictions and quarantines in a measured way while still safeguarding the health and safety of the public," according to Air Canada chief medical officer Jim Chung. "The preliminary results suggest a shorter, test-based strategy may be an available and safe alternative to the 14-day quarantine."
Air Canada also is finalizing an order of 25,000 ID Now Covid-19 tests from Abbott, which it plans to use for voluntary employee testing.