Hotel quarantine measures for air travellers come into effect Feb. 22: Trudeau

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Air travellers landing in Canada will have to quarantine in a hotel, at their own expense, starting Feb. 22, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday, as the federal government tries to curb the spread of the new, more transmissible variants of the COVID-19 virus.

The enforcement date comes two weeks after the federal government said air travellers returning from non-essential trips abroad will have to isolate in a federally mandated facility for up to 72 hours while they await the results of a polymerase chain reaction test, commonly known as a PCR test.

Trudeau said the measures are in place to keep Canadians safe, particularly given the threat of the emerging variants.

"We're trying to keep people safe and keeping Canadians safe from the viruses and discouraging all nonessential travel and ensuring that if people do have to travel, they're doing the things that we can be certain are going to prevent the virus from spreading," he told reporters outside Rideau Cottage Friday.

"We're aware that that we need to be thoughtful and compassionate about people who are in extremely difficult situations and absolutely need to travel. We're not trying to punish people."

Health Minister Patty Hajdu said travellers will need to book a hotel in the city in which they first arrive in Canada, either Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto or Montreal. Hotel booking information will be available online as of Thursday.

Those with a negative result on their arrival test will be able to take a connecting flight to their final destination.

"Costs of these hotel stays may vary slightly at each location. It is up to the traveller to choose where they wish to stay and book in advance of departure," said Hajdu.

"The price will include costs associated with the room, food, cleaning, infection prevention and control measures, and security as well as transportation."

Trudeau has estimated the potential cost of the three-day quarantine hotel stay at $2,000.

Those who test positive will be moved to a designated quarantine facility as the government monitors new variants of the coronavirus.

Hajdu says vaccinated Canadians will not be exempt.

The testing requirement is in addition to the mandatory 14-day quarantine period for returning non-essential travellers. The government has had travel restrictions on most foreign nationals in place since March 2020.

more ... https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/travel-restictions-border-1.5911845