Canada: Health officials tighten travel restrictions, quarantine requirements due to coronavirus disease, starting Jan. 31 /update 15

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As part of ongoing efforts to limit the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), health officials in Canada announced additional restrictions and quarantine requirements for travelers entering the country, starting Jan. 31. The Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing, and Air Transat airlines will cancel services to Mexico, Costa Rica, and Caribbean islands between Jan. 31-April 30. Starting in early February, all international passenger flights -including those from the US- will enter Canada through one of the following four airports: Pearson International Airport (YYZ) in Toronto, Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Montreal Trudeau Airport (YUL), and Calgary International Airport (YYC).

Officials also announced that starting in February, travelers entering Canada will need to take a COVID-19 test in the airport upon arrival; they will proceed to quarantine at an approved hotel, while waiting for the test results, at the travelers' expense. If the test result is negative, travelers will be allowed to finish the 14-day quarantine at their homes; if the test result is positive, travelers will continue the quarantine in government-designated facilities.

The nation's land border closure with the US for all nonessential travel remains in place through at least Feb. 21. The measure, which has been in place since March 21, 2020, is part of an agreement between the US and Canada and does not affect trade or essential business travel. Authorities announced that in the coming weeks, those allowed to enter Canada through the land border will also be required to present proof of having tested negative for COVID-19.

Other restrictions remain unchanged. All airline passengers aged 5 years or over who are traveling to Canada must provide the airline with proof of having tested negative for COVID-19 using either a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test taken no more than 72 hours prior to departing for Canada. Travelers from South America and the Caribbean are allowed to present results from tests taken within 96 hours of departure for Canada.

A ban on entering Canada remains in force for most nonresident foreign nationals, with those allowed to enter still being required to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Canadian citizens and residents returning to the country can enter, as well as immediate family members of Canadian citizens or residents, 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 entry 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, provided they do not display any COVID-19 symptoms.

All air passengers must wear protective face coverings, and all maritime and land passengers are encouraged to do the same. Persons exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms are not allowed to board planes to Canada, except for Canadian citizens and residents. 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 to reach Alaska for essential reasons 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 northbound 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, and have proof of residence or employment in Alaska if going north, or in the lower 48 states if going south. Violators could face fines.

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.