Canada: Authorities ban commercial and private passenger flights from the UK starting 0001 Dec. 21 to 2359 Dec. 23 due to variant COVID-19 strain /update 9

Event

Officials in Canada have announced a ban on all commercial and private passenger flights from the UK starting from 0001 Dec. 21 until at least 2359 Dec. 23, due to the spread of a variant strain of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the UK. Additionally, travelers from the UK who entered Canada Dec. 20 will undergo additional screening measures.

An earlier ban on entry for most nonresident foreign nationals to Canada, to curb the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), continues to be in place until at least Jan. 21. Under the measures, Canadian citizens and residents returning to the country must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Immediate family members of Canadian citizens or residents can 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.

Canadian and US authorities are also maintaining a closure between the two nations' shared ground borders through at least Dec. 21. The measure, which has been in place since March 21, does not affect trade or essential business travel.

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. 18, 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 as of Dec. 18. Retail stores may operate at 15-percent capacity. Personal care and professional services may only operate by appointment.
British Columbia: Most businesses and services are allowed to open, including retail stores, restaurants, personal care businesses, museums, libraries, office-based businesses, movie theaters, spas, and hotels. Outdoor recreational activities and sports are allowed, and parks and beaches are open. However, large events and community-based gatherings are suspended. Individuals are required to wear facemasks in indoor public spaces and workplaces. Individuals are encouraged to avoid all nonessential travel.
Manitoba: Enhanced measures went into effect across the province Nov. 20. 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; an exception that allowed travelers from certain neighboring regions to avoid self-quarantine has been rescinded. Frequent commuters, essential workers, and people traveling for health reasons are exempt. Informal gatherings of up to 20 people are permitted. Stricter measures went into effect in the Moncton region on Nov. 20 that only permit essential travel in and out of the region and mandates the use of facemasks in all indoor and outdoor public spaces.
Newfoundland and Labrador: Travelers entering from all other regions of Canada must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival; the requirement will be in place for travelers from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island until at least Dec. 8. 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: 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. Organized events can allow up to 50-percent of the venue's capacity with no more than 200 people indoors, and 250 people outdoors. Social gatherings of up to 50 people are allowed. Bars and restaurants, swimming pools, campgrounds, personal care businesses, and childcare centers can open provided they enforce social distancing. Public beaches, parks, and other outdoor recreational areas are open. In Halifax and Hants counties, until at least Dec. 9, gatherings of more than five people are banned; restaurants and bars cannot offer in-person services; gyms, libraries, and museums must close; and retail stores can operate at 25-percent capacity.
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: The Toronto and Peel regions have recently implemented stricter measures. Indoor gatherings and social events are banned, but outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed. Schools and childcare centers are open, but post-secondary schools cannot offer in-person lessons. Restaurants, bars, and clubs have closed all in-person operations, and open only for delivery and takeout services. Nonessential retail stores and malls can only open for curbside pickup, while entertainment businesses, personal care businesses must remain closed. Gyms and fitness centers can only offer outdoor activities to a maximum of 10 people. Meanwhile, Hamilton, Halton, Waterloo, and Durham regions are at the "red zone" risk level, under which indoor gatherings of more than five people and outdoor gatherings of more than 25 people are banned. Restaurants and bars can only allow up to 10 people indoors. Event venues can allow up to 10 people indoors, and certain personal care and entertainment businesses must close. These measures will be in place until at least Dec. 21.
Prince Edward Island: The use of facemasks is mandatory in all public spaces. Most businesses can open, following social distancing measures. Travelers entering from other regions of Canada 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 Dec. 7.
Quebec: From Dec. 25-Jan. 11, all non-essential 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, and indoor gatherings of more than five people are banned. Team sports and group activities are banned, while no more than 30 people are allowed at places of worship and indoor entertainment businesses. Officials urge businesses to allow employees to work from home as much as possible.
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.