Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced stricter restrictions on travellers in response to new, likely more contagious variants of the novel coronavirus.
The restrictions include mandatory quarantine for travellers in a hotel at their own expense when they arrive in Canada and suspending airline service to Mexico and all Caribbean destinations until April 30.
Trudeau said on Friday in addition to the pre-boarding test Canada already required, the government will be introducing mandatory PCR testing at the airport for people returning to Canada.
“Travelers will then have to wait for up to three days at an approved hotel for their test results, at their own expense, which is expected to be more than $2,000,” Trudeau said.
“Those with negative test results will then be able to quarantine at home under significantly increased surveillance and enforcement.
“We will also, in the coming weeks, be requiring nonessential travellers to show a negative test before entry at the land border with the US, and we are working to stand up additional testing requirements for land travel.”
Canada already requires those entering the country to self-isolate for 14 days and to present a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days before arrival.
The move to require a hotel stay upon return would discourage vacations as people would not want to have to quarantine at a hotel at their own expense upon return.
“It’s excellent. It’s a shame it’s this late. This is something they could have done ages ago,” said Dr Andrew Morris, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Toronto and the medical director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Sinai-University Health Network.
“This is definitely a step in the right direction.”
Trudeau also announced there will be a delay in part of the next shipment of the Moderna vaccine, which arrives next week. He said Canada will receive 78 percent of the expected amount, translating to 180,000 doses.
Here’s a summary of what you need to know if you are flying into Canada:
Mandatory testing on arrival: The government will require all international travellers flying in to any of the four airports mentioned to undergo a mandatory COVID-19 test on arrival. This new rule does not waive the requirement of having a negative COVID-19 test result before you board an international flight to Canada.
Compulsory hotel stay: Following the COVID-19 test, travellers will have to quarantine in a “government-approved hotel” for a maximum of three days , while their test results come back. This mandatory quarantine in a federally approved hotel can cost up to $2,000 per person and will be borne by the traveller. Transport Canada says a list of government approved hotels to be used for this mandatory quarantine will be released in the coming days.
The 14-day self-isolation still applies: Travellers who test negative while in quarantine still have to self-isolate at home for 14 days. Travellers who test positive for COVID-19 will be asked to quarantine further in a government-appointed facility. More details will be released in the coming days.
For Ontario, testing at Pearson starts in February: The government of Ontario announced Thursday that, while the Federal plan may take a few weeks to be implemented, all international travellers landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport will be asked to undergo a COVID-19 rapid test starting Feb.
1. Those who refuse to get tested will face a fine of at least $750.
No flights from sun destinations: Prime Minister Trudeau also announced that all major Canadian airlines have agreed to stop flights to and from sun destinations like Mexico and the Carribbean, at least until April 30.
