COVID-19 LAND BORDER MEASURES
LOCATION: NATIONAL
Issue/Source: COVID-19 INFECTION CONTROL AT INTERNATIONAL LAND BORDERS
Date: MARCH 2021
Suggested Responses
- Canadians are strongly advised to cancel or postpone any travel plans outside Canada. Now is not the time to travel.
- The Government is implementing a multi-layered approach to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and new variants, including measures such as testing and quarantine
- On February 12, 2021, the the Government of Canada announced enhanced border measures for people travelling for non-essential purposes. This includes a 72 hour pre-arrival testing requirement at the land border, together with additional COVID-19 testing in Canada – both on arrival and toward the end of the 14-day quarantine.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
- Transport Canada is supporting Canada Border Services Agency and Public Health Agency of Canada in the implementation of new land border measures to reduce the risk of importation and transmission of COVID-19 and new variants of the virus related to international travel.
- On February 12, 2021, the Government of Canada announced expanded border measures (with limited exceptions for exempt travellers, such as commercial truckers). This includes:
- Effective February 15, 2021: a 72-hour pre-arrival testing requirement (molecular test) for travellers seeking entry in land mode, together with two COVID-19 tests in Canada (on arrival and toward the end of the 14-day quarantine (effective February 22, 2021). Travellers may face fines if they do not provide proof of a negative test result on arrival at the border.
- Effective February 22, 2021: travellers arriving by land or air are required to submit their travel and contact information, including a suitable quarantine plan, electronically via ArriveCAN before crossing the border or boarding a flight.
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TESTING AT THE BORDER
LOCATION: NATIONAL
Issue/Source: TESTING FOR COVID-19 AT THE BORDER
Date: MARCH 2021
Suggested Responses
- The closure of borders and public health restrictions implemented in countries across the world to combat the COVID-19 virus have had significant impacts on the Canadian transportation sector.
- On January 7, 2021, the Government of Canada implemented a requirement for all passengers, age 5 and above, to provide a negative COVID-19 molecular test prior to boarding a flight to Canada.
- The Government of Canada announced on January 29 additional requirements for air passengers arriving in Canada to limit the spread of COVID-19 and its variants. These requirements include the funneling of international passenger flights to four Canadian airports, the obligation for passengers to take a molecular COVID-19 test upon arrival in Canada and to spend three days in isolation at an accredited hotel before being allowed to complete the mandatory 14 day isolation at home once a negative test is received.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Pre-Departure Testing and Mandatory Isolation for Air Travellers
- The new requirement for proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test prior to boarding for air travellers was set out in the Interim Order No. 20 Respecting Certain Requirements for Civil Aviation Due to COVID-19, which supports COVID health requirements made by the Minister of Health. It is also stated under the Quarantine Act.
- In support of this new measure, Government of Canada messaging was strengthened to increase the awareness about the risks of travel. Further, messaging identified that Canadians traveling may encounter challenges in obtaining polymerase chain reaction tests in order to return home.
- Implementation of this requirement has been an overwhelming success, with airlines around the world fully adopting these new obligations, and with only a small handful of the thousands of air travellers flying to Canada arriving without a test.
- Since February 22, new requirements to passengers entering Canada by air includeed a molecular COVID-19 test upon arrival in Canada and a three day isolation at an accredited hotel. Passengers arel then allowed to complete the mandatory 14 day isolation at home once a negative test is received.
NOTAM for Redirecting Passenger Flights
- On March 18, 2020, Transport Canada instructed airlines to redirect international passenger flights to four Canadian airports – Toronto Pearson International Airport, Vancouver International Airport, Montreal-Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport and Calgary International Airport. Following this decision, both the Canada Border Services Agency and the Public Health Agency of Canada ensured sufficient increase in their resources at all four airports.
- As of February 4, 2021, international passenger flights will now only be allowed to enter Canada through the same four points of entry. However, flights arriving from the United States, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America, which were exempted in the previous restriction, will no longer be exempt.