Air Canada will now perform mandatory temperature checks before passengers can board their flight, according to a press release from the airline published Monday.

The Canadian airline released a list of increased sanitary measures as part of their new CleanCare+ program, which is designed to "reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19."

Air Canada will be the first airline in North America to introduce pre-flight temperature checks, which will be conducted via a non-invasive, infra-red procedure.

Temperature checks will be mandatory for passengers, one of several measures to be introduced through Air Canada CleanCare+ as we enhance personal safety & grooming aboard our aircraft. Adjacent seats will be blocked & care kits handed out to passengers https://t.co/DQNS93fUkL

— Air Canada (@AirCanada) May 4, 2020

Other new measures include:

• More personal space in Economy Class at least until June 30, 2020; Air Canada will automatically block the sale of adjacent seats and cap the total number of seats sold for each flight
• Personal care kits containing disinfectant and safety items
• Electrostatic cabin spraying to reinforce aircraft grooming protocols 
• Revised food product minimizing crew and passenger contact
• Mandatory employee Personal Protective Equipment

All measures will be implemented by May 15, 2020.

Calin Rovinescu, President and CEO of Air Canada said, "With Air Canada CleanCare+, we are introducing a comprehensive new program to give each customer added assurance for their well-being throughout all stages of their journey."

Rovinescu said the airline will continue to add to the program using "best practices" from around the world, and may potentially introduce screening tools such as blood oxygen level testing in future.

Air Canada has already taken a number of steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including making non-medical face masks mandatory for all air travellers.