Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
People flying to more than a dozen remote First Nations in Northern Ontario are being screened for COVID-19 with rapid antigen testing prior to boarding as one airline ramps up its safety protocols on passenger flights.
North Star Air provides passenger, cargo and charter service to 54 remote locations in Northern Ontario, Manitoba and Nunavat. It said the Ontario Ministry of Transportation is covering the costs of the testing for eight weeks in Thunder Bay and Sioux Lookout while a private third party is financing the contracts for nurses to administer them.
While passenger flights in the remote North have been limited since the pandemic, people still travel out of the communities for essential reasons such as medical appointments and emergencies such as funerals. Essential workers such as health care workers, police and contractors also rely on airlines like North Star Air to get into the communities.
Northern Ontario airline testing all passengers for COVID-19 before boarding theglobeandmail.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theglobeandmail.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.