McMaster researchers studying COVID-19 among international travellers

The federal government has awarded McMaster University $2.5 million for a study looking at COVID-19 rates among international travellers arriving at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

The Canadian international COVID-19 surveillance border study, in partnership with Air Canada and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, began in September, the university said in a release.

It involves travellers, who consent to be part of the study, giving samples to McMaster HealthLabs researchers before leaving the airport and then again after seven and 14 days. By law, all international travellers must quarantine for 14 days during the pandemic.

McMaster HealthLabs says the study is intended to examine airport surveillance for COVID-19. This includes looking at the feasibility of self-collected nasal-oral samples, logistics around testing, transportation and communication for travellers.

Dr. Marek Smieja, McMaster HealthLabs scientific director and co-principal investigator of the study, said the funding will help the team complete follow up and analysis.

Labour Minister and Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas MP Filomena Tassi congratulated the team for stepping up quickly to work with universities, businesses and other partners to develop and test solutions to curb the social and economic impacts of COVID-19."

The laboratory testing methods for the study were developed at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton.

An independent analysis of the data will take place at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

An interim report of the study's findings is expected mid-November.

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