Health Screening at the Border
Date: May 15, 2020
Classification: Unclassified
Fully releasable (ATIP?) Yes
Branch / Agency: HRB/CBSA
Proposed Response:
- CBSA Border Services Officers are the primary screening officers to assess travellers at the border.
- The CBSA works in tandem with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to prevent the introduction and spread of communicable diseases into Canada through administration of the Quarantine Act at all international ports of entry.
- PHAC provides guidance and advice to the CBSA of any required enhanced measures to be implemented at the border to help prevent the spread of serious infectious diseases into Canada.
- The CBSA works in close cooperation with PHAC to implement and operationalize all measures recommended (e.g., Covid-19) and follow all of Health Canada’s guidance as it pertains to the health and safety of its officers.
- Since the beginning of this pandemic, the CBSA has continued to engage with PHAC and to adjust its posture at the border, as required, to apply the border measures required to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Canada.
Background:
Training in public health matters at the border (e.g., identifying symptoms of quarantine concern) is an integral part of a Border Service Officer’s (BSO) training regime prior to an officer’s posting and in the field. Practical training is provided for BSOs to apply interviewing skills to address situations and risks such as Covid-19. BSOs further receive procedural guidance through shift briefings, operational bulletins, standard operating procedures and a job aid. Officers are also trained on how to utilize properly personal protective equipment (PPE).
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is in the process of deploying additional screening officers to various ports of entry across Canada, including land ports, to assist BSOs in health screening. The primary duties of PHAC Screening Officers are to: assess signs and symptoms of ill travellers identified; assist PHAC’s Central Notification Service Quarantine Officer by performing temperature checks of ill travellers; and, assist BSOs by calling the PHAC’s Central Notification Service to complete remote health assessments over the phone.
PHAC representatives also serve as Information Officers at the border (a new function implemented in January 2020). The role of an Information Officer is to provide printed materials to travellers, answer basic questions related to Covid-19, and point travellers to sources of information. These officers are not medical professionals, their scope is limited to promoting awareness and providing information to travellers. Currently, BSOs are supported at the four airports receiving international flights (Montreal, Toronto (Terminal 3), Calgary and Vancouver) by on-site PHAC Designated Screening Officers and Quarantine Officers. At other ports of entry, PHAC Quarantine Officers are available through a Central Notification telephone line.
The CBSA is currently engaged in discussion with PHAC in regards to the state of these elements in the re-opening of the border, and the Agency continues to compare notes regarding the required training elements. With respect to occupational health and safety, the CBSA works closely with Health Canada (HC) experts to ensure that appropriate measures are in place, including the examination of standard operating procedures for dealing with travellers who may exhibit symptoms of illness. The CBSA port of entry management provides regular briefings to staff on enhanced measures and procedures in place. In addition, officers are regularly briefed on emerging issues as they arise, as well as any upcoming potential situations or changes to practices.
At locations where PHAC resources are on site or in the vicinity, PHAC officers attend shift briefings to support CBSA port of entry management, and ensure that CBSA officers have the most up to date information, understanding of trends, as well as an opportunity to ask questions related to Covid-19, including how to protect themselves and about potential risks. To date, the CBSA’s operational approach on COVID-19 at the border is to enforce the guidance provided by PHAC.
Contacts:
Approved by: Louis Youdale, Vice-President, Human Resources Branch, [REDACTED]
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