Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces stricter restrictions on passengers’ 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, possibly more contagious variants of the new coronavirus – including forcing travelers to quarantine in a hotel at their expense when arriving in Canada and suspending air service to Mexico. all Caribbean destinations by April 30th.
Trudeau said that in addition to the pre-boarding test that Canada is already requesting, the government will introduce mandatory airport PCR testing for people returning to Canada.
“Travelers will then have to wait up to three days at an approved hotel to get test results, at their own expense, which is expected to exceed $ 2,000,” Trudeau said.
“Those with negative test results will then be able to be quarantined at home under significantly increased supervision 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 keep their workers safe.
“The cost is a stadium. It’s not like any other facility. This is one in which there must be measures to control infection prevention, security and other costs. It’s not just a regular hotel stay, “said Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer.
The Prime Minister said that people with positive tests will be asked immediately to be quarantined in designated government facilities to ensure that they do not carry variants of special concern. .
Trudeau also said the government and major Canadian airlines have agreed to immediately suspend services to solar destinations. He said Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing and Air Transat are canceling air service to all destinations in the Caribbean and Mexico from Sunday to April 30.
“They will make arrangements with their customers who are currently on a trip to these regions to arrange their return flights,” Trudeau said.
He said that starting next week, all international passenger flights must land at the following four airports: Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary and Montreal.
“Also in the coming weeks, we will require non-essential travelers to submit a negative test before entering the US land border and we are working to support additional testing requirements for land travel,” Trudeau said.
Canada is already requiring those entering the country to isolate themselves for 14 days and submit a negative COVID-19 test performed within three days of arrival.
Tam, Canada’s chief health official, said security contractors would go door-to-door to check on returnees isolating themselves at home.
The decision to request a hotel stay on return would discourage the holidays, as people would not want to be quarantined at a hotel at their own expense on return.
“She is OK. It’s a shame it’s so late. This could have been done centuries ago, ”said Dr. Andrew Morris, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Toronto and medical director of the Antimicrobial Management Program at Sinai-University Health Network.
“This is definitely a step in the right direction.”
More and more governments are thinking of ways to be more aggressive because of new variants, delays in vaccines, challenges with vaccinating the population, and strains in health care systems.
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said officials have asked Canadians to cancel all non-essential trips and are trying to eliminate it.
“Unfortunately, some choose to engage in non-essential travel. If they make that choice, they should bear the full cost,” Blair said.
Trudeau also announced that there will be a delay in the next shipment of the Moderna vaccine, which will arrive next week. He said Canada would receive 78% of the expected amount, which means 180,000 doses.