Canada: Authorities to enforce COVID-19-related test requirements for air travelers from Jan. 7 /update 12

Event

Effective Jan. 7, authorities in Canada will enforce new testing requirements for international air arrivals as part of ongoing efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). All airline passengers from abroad aged 5 years and over must present a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken up to 72 hours before departure to Canada. Persons with a negative PCR test result and who are authorized to enter Canada must still complete the mandatory 14-day self-quarantine.

The requirement is in addition to other existing international travel protocols and restrictions:

International Travel
The land border between the US and Canada will remain closed 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.

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

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.

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

Alberta: Stricter restrictions on businesses and gatherings that went into effect Dec. 8 and 13, remain in place, including a ban on all indoor and outdoor social gatherings, the closure of all restaurants, bars, and similar establishments for sit-in dining, and mandatory mask-wearing in public spaces. Numerous nonessential businesses are required to remain closed, including entertainment and indoor recreational facilities, and personal and wellness services. Retail stores and shopping malls may operate at 15-percent capacity only.
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. 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.
Newfoundland and Labrador: Travelers entering from all other regions of Canada must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Only select asymptomatic permanent residents from the Labrador-Quebec border area are exempt. 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 to 10 people, including members of the household. Businesses and organizations cannot hold events, including arts and cultural events, sports events, festivals, and wedding and funeral receptions. Faith gatherings and funeral or wedding ceremonies can allow up to 50-percent of 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. Video lottery terminals (VLT) are to remain closed in Halifax and Hanta counties.
Nunavut: All travel to and from Arviat and Whale Cove is restricted to medical evacuations, emergency services, flight crews, and hunters. Additionally, 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, and individuals are required to wear masks in public spaces. In most other areas, schools and businesses may reopen. Gatherings of up to 15 people indoors and 50 people outdoors are allowed. Recreational and leisure facilities have been allowed to reopen but at 50-percent capacity. Travel from 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: A provincial lockdown, with tighter business and movement restrictions, will remain in effect for all of Ontario until Jan. 9 and only in southern Ontario Jan. 10-23. Under the lockdown 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. 11: 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. 10, 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.
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. Indoor 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. 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. Otherwise, social gatherings are allowed with 10 people indoors and 50 people outdoors, and organized events can have up to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.

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.