The provincial government is not informed about US military flights coming and going from St. John’s as the matter falls under federal jurisdiction.
Health Minister John Haggie was responding to a situation earlier this week in which a group of American military personnel, on layover in St. John’s, ended up visiting local businesses instead of self-isolating as required.
Minister Haggie says the movement of the soldiers through airports in this province falls under federal jurisdiction.
The provincial government receives no direct knowledge, nor does it have access to, nor influence over, airport territory according to Haggie.
(Health Minister John Haggie.)
The minister says there was some ambiguity in the information supplied to the soldiers by the Canada Border Services Agency.
The instructions allow for exemptions to self-isolation for those who are essential workers at their workplace, but even then they are required to exercise physical distancing and wear masks.
Haggie says the province got involved, and he’s satisfied that the “vacuum in information” has been addressed.
Meanwhile, the Health Minister says there is no evidence to suggest that any of the soldiers were symptomatic, and any business is free to refuse service if they feel it poses a public safety risk.
Minister Haggie says he cannot speak to what screening measures are used by the US military in the deployment of troops.
