Canadian space technology and robotics giant MDA will begin offering its workers rapid COVID-19 testing at its Brampton, Ont., headquarters starting Tuesday, the latest company in a consortium of some of the country's biggest firms testing workplace screening. The pilot is being run by the University of Toronto's Creative Destruction Lab, which has partnered with 12 companies including some of Canada's top airlines, banks and sports teams to experiment with antigen tests that take about 15 minutes to deliver results. Those behind the project believe it could give Canada's corporate world a road map to quelling the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces that have had to close or have struggled to contain outbreaks. “It's a tool to be able to reopen parts of the economy and not have these broad range closures,” said Holly Johnson, MDA's director of business operations. The rapid testing at MDA is a voluntary program and is offered on top of mandatory COVID-19 protocols that are already in place, such as symptom screening, temperature testing, physical distancing and masks, Johnson said. Rogers Communications Inc. and Air Canada were the first two companies to begin the testing.<br/>
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Lufthansa subsidiary Swiss International is reducing its Geneva flight operations further to an “absolute minimum”, citing coronavirus travel restrictions, the company said on Monday. The reduction means Swiss will operate only 10% of the flights from Geneva during February that it flew in February 2019. The reduction applies from Feb. 1 and will apply until the end of the month, Swiss said. “In view of the tighter travel restrictions announced by the Swiss Federal Council on 27 January and the resulting decline in demand for air travel, Swiss has been compelled to temporarily reduce its flight operations to an absolute minimum,” the airline said. The number of Swiss flights using Geneva had already been reduced due to lower passenger numbers during the pandemic. The airport also currently lacks traveller testing facilities.<br/>
Frequent customers with EgyptAir can now donate their unused airline miles to Magdi Yaqoub Heart Foundation, as part of an agreement between the national airliner and the hospital. Travelers on EgyptAir Plus program can donate their miles to allow Magdi Yaqoub hospital to exchange miles for flight tickets as a contribution to the treatment of patients whose cases require traveling. This mile donation system will be effective as of 10 February and for three months.<br/>