Canada: Authorities extend ban on flights from the UK through Jan. 6, 2021. /update 11

Event

Officials in Canada have extended a ban on all commercial and private passenger flights from the UK until at least Jan. 6, 2021, due to the detection of a variant strain of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) found in the UK.

Other measures remain in place; the closure between the US and Canada's shared land borders will remain through at least Jan. 21. The measure, which has been in place since March 21, does not affect trade or essential business travel.

An earlier ban on entry for most nonresident foreign nationals to Canada also continues to be in place until at least Jan. 21. Under these measures, Canadian citizens and residents returning to the country can enter but must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Immediate family members of Canadian citizens or residents can also enter, provided they plan to stay for at least 15 days and are able to quarantine for the first 14 days of their stay.

Other nonresident foreign nationals allowed to enter must be traveling for essential reasons and must travel either from the US or be exempt from the restrictions by virtue of being temporary workers, international students, diplomats, aircrew members, or French citizens who live in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. People working in trade, those who cross the border regularly, government officials, and others working in critical manufacturing may be exempted from the 14-day self-quarantine requirement, as long as they do not display any COVID-19 symptoms.

Persons exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms are not allowed to board planes to Canada, including Canadian citizens. Canadian authorities have also banned individuals displaying symptoms associated with COVID-19 from domestic air and train travel until further notice. Travelers who are denied boarding are also barred from air or train travel for at least 14 days unless they can produce a medical certificate confirming that any symptoms are unrelated to COVID-19.

Canada maintains tightened border restrictions for persons transiting the country on essential travel to reach Alaska from the 48 contiguous US states ("Lower 48"). Foreign nationals traveling by land to Alaska from the US Lower 48 may only enter Canada through one of five border crossings: Abbotsford-Huntington, Kingsgate, or Osoyoos in British Columbia; North Portal, Saskatchewan; or Coutts, Alberta. Travelers who attempt to enter Canada through any other border crossing will be denied entry and rerouted to an approved crossing. Persons entering Canada from Alaska may use any border crossing. The regulations specify that travelers must take the most direct route through Canada and avoid stopping at leisure sites or national parks. Violators could face fines.

All international flights to Canada - except for trade and business flights or flights from the US, Mexico, the Caribbean, and St. Pierre and Miquelon - are landing only at Pearson International Airport (YYZ) in Toronto, Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Montreal Trudeau Airport (YUL), and Calgary International Airport (YYC). All air passengers are required to wear protective face coverings, and all maritime and land passengers are encouraged to do the same.

Individual provinces have implemented their own COVID-19 response measures at the regional level:

Alberta: Effective Dec. 8, all indoor and outdoor social gatherings are banned. In addition, as of Dec. 24, working from home is mandatory when physical presence at the workplace is not required. Indoor recreational centers - such as theaters, nightclubs, gyms, and conference centers - are closed, and festivals, sporting events, and concerts are suspended. Restaurants, bars, and similar establishments are closed for indoor dining. Retail stores may operate at 15-percent capacity. Personal care and professional services may only operate by appointment.
British Columbia: Until at least Jan. 8, social gatherings with people from outside one's household are banned, as well as events, including indoor and outdoor holiday events, music performances, movie theaters. Restaurants and bars can operate allowing a maximum of six people per table. High-intensity group activities at gyms and fitness centers are banned, as well as adult team sports. Facemasks must be worn in all indoor public settings. Outdoor recreational activities are allowed. Individuals are encouraged to avoid all nonessential travel.
Manitoba: Individuals may not make visits to other residences. All indoor and outdoor gatherings in public places must be limited to five people. Retail businesses may only sell essential items in stores. Restaurants may only open for delivery and pickup services. Personal care services, gyms and fitness centers, recreational and entertainment establishments must close, and religious services must be suspended. Individuals must wear facemasks in all indoor public spaces. Travel to and from northern Manitoba is restricted, and nonessential travel to the province is discouraged.
New Brunswick: Travelers entering from all other regions of Canada must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival; frequent commuters, essential workers, and people traveling for health reasons are exempt. In most of the province, informal gatherings of up to 20 people indoors and 50 people outdoors are permitted. Masks must be worn in all indoor public settings and at indoor gatherings. Stricter measures are in effect in the Edmundston region that only permit essential travel in and out of the region and limit indoor gatherings to members of the households and outdoor gatherings to 25 people.
Newfoundland and Labrador: Travelers entering from all other regions of Canada must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Gatherings are limited to 50 people; gatherings organized by a recognized business or organization are limited to 100 people. Retail stores, restaurants, outdoor pools, personal care businesses, movie theaters, gyms, and bars can open with capacity limitations. Outdoor recreational activities, sports, and summer camps are permitted to resume. Facemasks are mandatory in all indoor public spaces.
Northwest Territories: Only residents of the Northwest Territories, essential and approved workers, those moving to, studying in, or transiting the region with an approved self-isolation plan will be allowed entry. Travelers entering from other regions of Canada must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival; the self-quarantine may only be completed in Yellowknife, Inuvik, Hay River, or Fort Smith. Most business restrictions have been eased.
Nova Scotia: Gatherings at private residents must be limited at 10 people, including members of the household. Businesses and organizations cannot hold events, including arts and cultural events, sports events, festivals, wedding and funeral receptions. Faith gatherings and funeral or wedding ceremonies can allow up to 50-percent a venue's capacity or 100 people indoors, and up to 150 people outdoors. Restaurants and bars can provide in-person services nightly until 2200 and close by 2300. Retail stores can open at 25-percent capacity, and gyms and fitness centers at 50-percent capacity. Travelers entering from other regions of Canada must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, except those from Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island; travel to those areas should be avoided. Protective facemasks are mandatory in all indoor public spaces. In Halifax county, restaurants and bars cannot offer in-person services.
Nunavut: In Arviat, schools and nonessential businesses, including libraries, gyms, personal care businesses, must remain closed for in-person services, and gatherings of more than five people remain banned; gatherings must be outside of private homes. In most other areas, schools and businesses may reopen. Gatherings of up to 10 people indoors and 50 people outdoors are allowed. Hair salons and barber shops, as well as in-person services at restaurants, must remain closed. Travel from the Northwest Territories and the municipality of Churchill in Manitoba is allowed; however, travel from any other areas of Canada or abroad is banned, except for Nunavut residents and essential workers.
Ontario: Starting Dec. 26, the entire province will move into a lockdown, with tighter business and movement restrictions. The lockdown will be lifted in northern Ontario on Jan. 9, while in the rest of the province, it will remain in place through Jan. 23. Under the new guidelines, all individuals are asked to remain at home as much as possible, no indoor social gatherings are allowed, except with members of the same household, and all indoor public events are banned. Outdoor gatherings and events of up to 10 people are allowed. Restaurants, bars and similar establishments can only operate for delivery and pickup services. Malls, museums, amusement parks, personal care businesses, recreational facilities, entertainment venues, and gyms and fitness centers must close to the public. Childcare centers may remain open. Grocery stores and pharmacies may open at 50-percent capacity, while large retail stores may open at 25-percent capacity. Residents should avoid all nonessential travel.
Prince Edward Island: Tighter restrictions are in place until at least Jan. 8: Personal gatherings of more than 10 people, and organized gatherings of more than 50 people (including religious ceremonies, cultural events, movie theaters, weddings) are banned. Gyms and fitness centers, retail stores, libraries, and museums can open at 50-percent capacity; personal care businesses may operate by appointment only, and food and drink establishments may operate with a maximum of 50 customers, closing nightly by 2300, and not allowing more than 10 people per table. The use of facemasks is mandatory in all indoor public spaces, or outdoor public settings when social distancing is not possible. Travelers entering from other regions of Canada for nonessential travel must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival; the exception for travelers from Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, has been suspended until at least Jan. 11.
Quebec: From Dec. 25-Jan. 11, all nonessential businesses will be prohibited from operating. Essential businesses allowed to operate include banks, grocery stores, pharmacies, hardware stores, garages, and pet shops. Officials impose restrictions depending on the COVID-19 activity in each region. In Montreal and its surrounding area, as well as in Estrie, Maurice, Centre-du-Quebec, Capitale-Nationale, and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, gatherings are banned, sports and group recreational activities are suspended, public and event venues, such as concert halls, cinemas, and museums, are closed. Restaurants, bars, and similar establishments are closed for in-person services and can only open for delivery and takeout services; most personal care services can open. Nonessential travel is discouraged. Private gatherings of up to 10 people will be allowed between Dec. 24-27 if participants self-quarantine the previous seven days.
Saskatchewan: The use of facemasks is mandatory in all indoor public spaces. Private indoor gatherings must be limited to members of the household only; outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed. Events at public venues must be limited to a maximum of 30 people. Team sports and group activities are banned. Casinos and bingo halls must close, and personal care businesses can operate at 50-percent capacity. Starting Dec. 25, retail stores can operate at 50-percent.
Yukon: Travel is allowed from other provinces, but most travelers must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival, except for essential workers and those entering from border areas from British Columbia. Most businesses have been allowed to reopen, and gatherings of up to 15 people with members of the same households are allowed.

Residents of Canada are being asked to stay at home as much as possible. Authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.

Advice

Heed the directives of the local authorities. Reconfirm all travel arrangements before departure. Emphasize basic health precautions, especially frequent handwashing with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable. Practice good coughing/sneezing etiquette (i.e., covering coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue, maintaining distance from others, and washing hands). There is no evidence that the influenza vaccine, antibiotics, or antiviral medications will prevent this disease, highlighting the importance of diligent basic health precautions.