TORONTO (AP) – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday announced strict restrictions on travelers in response to new, possibly more contagious forms of the novel coronovirus – comprising passengers to quarantine at a hotel at their own expense when arriving in Canada Is included. And suspension of airline service to Mexico and all Caribbean destinations by 30 April.
Trudeau said that in addition to the pre-boarding test Canada already requires, the government will introduce mandatory PCR testing at the airport for people returning to Canada.
“Passengers will have to wait for three days at an approved hotel for the results of their test, which is expected to be over $ 2000,” Trudeau said.
“People with negative test results will then be able to quarantine at home under considerable surveillance and enforcement.”
He said that this measure will come into effect in the coming weeks.
The steep cost for a hotel stay will include the cost of a private PCR test, safety, food, and the cost of measures to keep the designated hotel safe for its workers.
“The cost is a ballparking. It is like no other facility. It is a place where infection prevention measures, security and other expenses are incurred. It is not just for a regular stay in a hotel, ”Dr. Said Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer.
Tam also said that a test would be required on the 10th day after people returned.
The Prime Minister said that people with positive tests would urgently need quarantine at designated government facilities to ensure that they were not of particular concern.
Trudeau also said that the government and the main airlines of Canada have already agreed to suspend service to Sun destinations. He said Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing, and Air Transat are canceling air service to all Caribbean destinations and Mexico starting Sunday, April 30.
“They are making arrangements with their customers who are currently traveling in these areas to organize their return flights,” Trudeau said.
He said that from next week all international passenger flights would have to land at the following four airports: Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary and Montreal.
Trudeau said, “We will need to show a negative test to non-potential travelers before entering the land border with the US, in the coming weeks, and we will be working to meet additional testing requirements for land travel Are, ”Trudeau said.
Canada is already required to self-isolate for 14 days and submit a negative COVID-19 test within three days before arrival.
Canada’s top health official, Tam, said security contractors are going door-to-door to investigate people isolated from house to house.
Holidays will be discouraged due to the need to stay in the hotel on return as people will not want to quarantine any hotel at their expense on return.
“Excellent. It’s too late a shame. It’s something they could have done centuries ago,” said Dr. Andrew Morris, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Toronto and Sinai-University Health Network Medical Director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program.
“This is definitely a step in the right direction.”
More and more governments are thinking of ways to be more aggressive due to new variants, delays in vaccines, challenges associated with population immunization and pressure on health care systems.
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said officials are urging Canadians to cancel all non-potential travel and are trying to end it.
“Unfortunately, some are making the choice to engage in non-travel. If they are going to make that choice, they should bear the full cost, ”Blair said.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said his province will begin testing at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport from Monday, until federal measures are implemented.
Trudeau also announced that part of the next shipment of Modern Vaccines to come next week would be delayed. He said that Canada would receive 78% of the expected amount, which would translate to 180,000 doses.
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