Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces stricter restrictions on travelers’ response to new, probably more contagious variants of the new coronavirus
TORONTO – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday announced stricter restrictions on travelers in response to new, probably more contagious variants of the new coronavirus, including requiring travelers to quarantine a hotel at their expense when they arrive in Canada and suspend air service in Mexico and all Caribbean destinations until April 30.
Trudeau said that in addition to the pre-boarding test that Canada already requires, the government will introduce mandatory PCR testing at the airport for people returning to Canada.
“Travelers will have to wait up to three days in an approved hotel to get the test results, at their own expense, which is expected to exceed $ 2,000,” Trudeau said.
“Those with negative test results will be able to quarantine at home with significantly higher vigilance and enforcement.”
The high cost of staying at the hotel includes the cost of a private PCR test, security, food and the cost of the measures that designated hotels will have to take to protect their workers.
“The cost is ballparking. This is not like any other facility. This is where there should also be measures to control infection prevention, safety, and other costs. It’s not just a regular stay in a hotel, ”said Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s head of public health.
The prime minister said those with positive evidence should immediately be quarantined at designated government facilities to ensure they do not carry variants of particular concern. .
Trudeau also said the government and major Canadian airlines have agreed to immediately suspend service to solar destinations. He said Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing and Air Transat are canceling air service to all Caribbean and Mexican destinations from Sunday through April 30th.
“They will make arrangements with their customers who are currently traveling through these regions to arrange their return flights,” Trudeau said.
He said that starting next week, all international passenger flights will have to land at the following four airports: Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary and Montreal.
“Also, in the coming weeks, we will require non-essential travelers to show negative evidence before entering the land border with the U.S. and we are working to advocate for additional testing requirements for land travel,” Trudeau said.
Canada already requires those entering the country to isolate themselves for 14 days and present a negative COVID-19 test conducted in the three days prior to arrival.
Tam, Canada’s top health official, said security contractors will go door-to-door to check on returnees who are isolated at home.
The decision to set up a hotel on the way back would discourage the holiday, as people would not want to have to quarantine in a hotel at their own expense on their return.
“She is OK. It’s a shame it’s so late. That’s something they could have done decades ago, ”said Dr. Andrew Morris, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Toronto and medical director of the Sinai-University Health Network’s Antimicrobial Custody Program.
“It’s definitely a step in the right direction.”
More and more governments are thinking of ways to be more aggressive because of new variants, vaccine delays, challenges to vaccinate the population, and tensions in health systems.
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said officials have been urging Canadians to cancel all non-essential trips and try to eliminate them.
“Unfortunately, some are making the decision to make non-essential trips. If they are going to make that decision, they should bear the full cost,” Blair said.
Trudeau also announced that there will be a delay in part in the upcoming shipment of the Modern vaccine, which will arrive next week. He said Canada will receive 78% of the planned amount, which will translate into 180,000 doses.