The federal government has introduced new COVID-19 safety measures for anyone flying into Canada.
Health Minister Patty Hajdu says starting February 22 all air, non-essential travellers will be required to take a COVID-19 test when they arrive, before exiting the airport, and another at the end of their 14 day quarantine period.
Hajdu adds, “Air travellers will also be required to reserve, prior to departure to Canada, a three-night stay in a government authorized hotel. Travellers will be required to stay at their reserved hotel for up to three nights, at their own cost, while they await the results of their arrival test.”
Hotel booking information will be available online starting on February 18.
Hajdu says, “Travellers will need to book a hotel in the City in which they first arrived in Canada. If they receive a negative result on their arrival test, they will be able to take a connecting flight to their final destination (after the three-day quarantine).”
The only airports cleared to accept anyone entering the country are Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal.
Hajdu encourages people to do their homework before flying stressing hotel pricing will vary.
“The price will include costs associated with the room, food, cleaning, infection prevention and control measures and security as well as transportation.”
Earlier this week the Prime Minister announced that as of Monday, February 15 anyone who arrives at a Canadian land border on non-essential travel, including Snowbirds, will be required to show a negative PCR test from the previous 72 hours.
The government began requiring all people arriving in Canada by air to show a negative PCR-based test in early January.
Trudeau says returning Canadians without a negative test won’t be refused entry because they are already on Canadian territory.
However, he says they can be fined up to $3,000 or even face jail time.
