Passenger on flight confirmed with COVID-19

A passenger on a Porter Airlines flight from Halifax to Thunder Bay has been confirmed to have COVID-19.

The Thunder Bay district health unit issued an advisory Tuesday regarding Flight 222 on March 19. The release said anyone sitting in rows 8 through 12 on the flight, as well as the flight crew, should self-monitor for symptoms of the respiratory virus until Thursday. The flight also stopped in Ottawa and Toronto.

"The individual and several close contacts were selfisolating at home since their return to Nipigon," which is about 115 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay, the release said.

"The individual was tested at the COVID-19 assessment centre operated by the Nipigon District Memorial Hospital. The result came through late afternoon on Monday and a public health investigation and follow-up began immediately on receipt of the positive result.

"The individual and close contacts will remain in isolation and will be monitored by TBDHU until fully resolved and cleared by public health. ... TBDHU is advising that the individual did travel on a domestic flight where transmission of the virus could have potentially occurred."

Any passengers or crew who develop symptoms such as cough and high fever should contact public health, the release said.

In Nova Scotia, a screening tool is available at https://811. novascotia.ca/

In response to whether Porter Airlines has directly contacted passengers on the case, a spokesman said in an email that further questions on the case should be directed to Thunder Bay public health.

The Chronicle Herald has reached out to Thunder Bay and Nova Scotia public health officials for comment.