Few travellers still willing to fly

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/03/2020 (1651 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The federal government has advised Canadians to avoid non-essential travel outside of the country until further notice.

Judging by the scene Saturday afternoon at the James Armstrong Richardson Aiport, it appears most Winnipeggers listened.

Just after 1 p.m., there were only a handful of people checking in for flights. Some of the front-line staff helping them were wearing plastic gloves.

The airport security staff also outnumbered the travellers as only three people were going through screening at the time. A Canadian screening officer said the airport had been a ghost town all day.

Despite the warnings, there were still several people with their luggage packed with flip flops and sunscreen.

“We’re going through with it,” said Heather Fowler, a nurse from Kenora, Ont., who was off to Cuba with her 16-year-old daughter Brianna and their friends. “I’m confident in the system. Lot’s of people (advised us to cancel). But I mean, if everybody’s doing basic hygiene, basic handwashing, we’ll be fine.”

Joining Heather and Ally on the trip was fellow Lake Of The Woods District Hospital nurse Carla Northcote-Brewer and her 16-year-old daughter Ally who goes to school with Brianna.

“I do think it’s being blown out of proportion,” Northcote-Brewer said.

“First of all, it’s cough and flu season anyway. My husband is at home sick with a cold. He doesn’t have COVID-19. He’s isn’t going to die. But people blow it out of proportion. It’s basic hand hygiene. Wash your hands, don’t cough on people and if you’re sick, stay home.”

The group planned their all-inclusive resort trip last week.

“I think the numbers (of people) are going to be low (at the resort) so there’s going to be less congestion than any facility in Canada, I’m sure,” Fowler said.

According to OnCuba News, the country had its first four cases of COVID-19 this past week. The Kenora nurses and their daughters said they’ve been keeping an eye on what’s going on in Cuba.

“If we see a guy that’s coughing up a lung, we’re not going to sit next to him at the table,” Fowler said.

James Sesay was flying to Montreal with his family. The fact their trip is in Canada made them feel comfortable to go through with it. They’re still being cautious, however, as Sesay’s made sure to have disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer in his carry-on.

Sesay said they’re going to visit a family member who is ill (not with COVID-19).

“I had to go, but if I had another choice, I may have stayed,” Sesay admits. “It’s very scary. Sometimes you just have to go on a hunch.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31