PM announces mandatory hotel quarantine for travel

Canada's main airlines are suspending service to popular sun destinations while travellers returning from abroad will quarantine in a designated hotel as they await results of a COVID-19 test administered at the airport, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday.

I’m announcing new border measures that’ll help keep you and your family safe, and I’m giving an update on our government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tune in now for details: https://t.co/Oj6KhC4dbb

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 29, 2021

As part of the new restrictions aimed at discouraging travel and reducing the spread of more infectious variants, Trudeau said all returning Canadians will quarantine in an approved hotel for three days at their own expense while they await results of a COVID-19 test taken at the airport.

Trudeau says that requirement could cost each traveller more than $2000.

Those with negative test results will be able to quarantine for the rest of the mandatory two weeks at home, while those with positive tests will isolate in designated government facilities.

Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing, and Air Transat will suspend service to all Caribbean destinations and Mexico starting Sunday until April 30, and starting next week, all international passenger flights must land at only four airports – in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, and Montreal.

WATCH VIDEO BELOW ON TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

Airlines will be making arrangements with customers who currently on a trip in these regions to organize their return flights, Trudeau said.

Restricting international travel is important as more infectious variants of COVID-19 spread around the globe, he noted.

"With the challenges we currently face with COVID-19, both here at home and abroad, we all agree that now is just not the time to be flying," Trudeau said Friday.

"By putting in place these tough measures now, we can look forward to a better time when we can all plan those vacations."

In the coming weeks, non-essential travelers will also have to show a negative test before entry at the land border with the United States.

Quebec Premier Francois Legault has been urging Ottawa to require anyone returning from abroad to quarantine for two weeks in a hotel, at their own expense.

Non-essential travel into Canada by most foreign nationals has been banned since the pandemic first began sweeping across the country last March.

Anyone entering the country has been required to self-quarantine for two weeks.

Legault and Ontario Premier Doug Ford have urged Ottawa to impose mandatory testing upon arrival in Canada as well.

And they've proposed a ban on flights from countries where the new, more contagious variants of the virus are circulating.

Canada did temporarily ban flights from the United Kingdom after that country reported in December a new variant of COVID-19 that was spreading like wildfire. But the ban was lifted once the pre-departure test requirement came into effect.

Trudeau also said Friday that provinces and territories will get $1 billion to help further shield schools from infections, including sanitizer and better classroom ventilation, as well as support for online learning and remote classes. This is the second instalment of federal funding through the Safe Return to Class Fund.

Last August, Trudeau committed up to $2 billion through the Safe Return To Class fund. The first instalment was paid out last fall as schools reopened across the country for the first time since March.

The fund is intended to help cover the costs of physically-distanced learning spaces, improved air ventilation, increased hand sanitation and hygiene, and purchases of personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies.

Trudeau acknowledged the many sacrifices Canadians have already made to contain infections but said difficult measures must be adopted to get through the pandemic quicker and lessen damage to Canadian's health, as well as the economy.

He insisted the government was committed to the safe restart of the tourism sector, when conditions improve.

"We're doing this to keep as many Canadians alive and healthy as we can through this pandemic," he said.

"We're going to keep doing the things that will end it as quickly as possible and that means staying home, staying safe, (and) getting vaccines here as quickly as possible."

Flights:

As of Jan. 31 and until April 30, the government and Canada’s airlines have agreed to suspend all flights to and from Mexico and Caribbean countries.

As of Feb. 3, all commercial international flights can only land at four airports: Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, Calgary International Airport, and Vancouver International Airport. This includes flights arriving from the United States, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America, which had previously been exempted from rules of this kind.

Tests:

— air travellers who decide to travel for non-essential reasons will have to take a COVID-19 test on arrival, in addition to existing rules around pre-departure testing.

— a 72-hour pre-arrival testing requirement for travellers seeking entry at the land border will also be introduced, with limited exceptions such as commercial truckers.

Quarantine: — while they await the results of the test, they'll have to stay at a government-approved hotel at their own cost for three nights while awaiting their results.

— the government has now hired security officers who will check on people supposed to be in quarantine to ensure they are complying.