Health Minister John Haggie says officials here will be watching what happens with an Alberta pilot project aimed at reducing the length of time that travelers have to quarantine.

People entering Canada by land or air through Alberta will have the option of being tested for COVID-19 at the border. But the mandatory 14-day isolation period could be shortened to about 48 hours if the test comes back negative.

In that case, the person will be allowed to leave their quarantine as long as they remain in Alberta for the first 14 days and commit to a second test on day six or seven after arrival.

Haggie spoke to the idea yesterday outside the House of Assembly.

He says they certainly need to know what their experiences are. The Goal in Newfoundland and Labrador Haggie says is containment, not zero cases.

Meanwhile, a rotational worker from this province says there are big benefits to Alberta’s pilot project.

Newfoundland and Labrador health officials are currently evaluating the results of a trial program whereby rotational workers can get a test five days after returning to the province lessening the quarantine period.

Jeremy Howell says the information used to create that program doesn’t hold the same weight it once did. He references data from air Canada that shows the five to seven day incubation period is wrong 80 per cent of the time. He says Alberta is moving with those results and we need to keep moving too.

Howell says being tested at the Airport would provide more peace of mind to workers and their families. He says these workers are leaving the airport, hopping in a cab, and going home to their families. Howell argues that if you could find out at the airport if you have COVID, a lot of workers wouldn’t go home.