Canada closing borders to most travellers who are not citizens

[Yehudaa]

I saw Canada is also cancelling all flights to Mexico/Caribbean.

Yes. Interestingly, Florida is not included.

[PlatinumGuy]

Yes. Interestingly, Florida is not included.

The US still has some clout...

[Yehudaa]

The above doesn’t apply if you drive into Canada, but Canada will require a negative PCR test in order to enter Canada via a land border starting next week and additional testing requirements may be added.

@Dan did you see this clearly somewhere?

I'm particularly interested as I'm currently in the US with plans to drive home to Canada at some point

[Dan]

@Dan did you see this clearly somewhere?

I'm particularly interested as I'm currently in the US with plans to drive home to Canada at some point

Was in the one of the articles I read.

[Yehudaa]

Was in the one of the articles I read.

Got it. Thanks.

Hopefully the government will post the official news shortly. I assume it'l lbe posted here.

[PlatinumGuy]

Was in the one of the articles I read.

“We will also, in the coming weeks, be requiring nonessential travelers to show a negative test before entry at the land border with the US, and we are working to stand up additional testing requirements for land travel,” Trudeau said.

https://apnews.com/article/travel-justin-trudeau-canada-coronavirus-pandemic-21d1685b076a62025326b0eb4441cd9c

Sounds like business as usual for now.

[Yo ssi]

Was in the one of the articles I read.

Why not just listen to Justin? He says it all clearly.

[Yehudaa]

One thing that seems particularly vague is the start date of the hotel quarantine. I personally know half a dozen people who are now struggling to decide when to fly home from the US. If Trudeau had at least said an approximate date people would be able to plan accordingly.

I'm sure it'll take them some time to get this set up but I assume he's keeping it vague to discourage people from taking quick trips to sunnier destinations before the hotel thing kicks in...

[PlatinumGuy]

I assume he's keeping it vague to discourage people from taking quick trips to sunnier destinations before the hotel thing kicks in...

Yeah his message has been to avoid trips because of potential abrupt change in reentry regulations.

[Yehudaa]

Hopefully the government will post the official news shortly. I assume it'l lbe posted here.

The official news releases are out:

Government of Canada introduces further restrictions on international travel

Expansion of international flight restrictions at Canadian airports

Canada to implement new testing and quarantine measures to reduce COVID-19 infection related to non-essential international air travel


@Dan you were correct about land borders-

As soon as possible in the coming weeks, all air travellers arriving in Canada, with very limited exceptions, must reserve a room in a Government of Canada-approved hotel for three nights at their own cost, and take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival at their own cost. More details will be available in the coming days.

The Government of Canada will introduce a 72-hour pre-arrival testing requirement (molecular test) for travellers seeking entry in land mode, with limited exceptions such as commercial truckers. In addition, we continue to collaborate with partners in the United States to strengthen our border measures and keep our countries safe.

[Yehudaa]

Wow. They really seem to be stepping up enforcement:

Travellers are still required to complete a mandatory 14-day quarantine. To ensure travellers’ awareness and compliance with quarantine requirements, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is working with security companies to help complete compliance checks for travellers arriving in Canada. As part of this partnership, PHAC has awarded contracts to four security companies: The Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, G4S Secure Solutions (Canada) Ltd., Garda Canada Security Corporation (GardaWorld), and Paladin Risk Solutions.

Employees of these companies were trained by PHAC to be authorized as Screening Officers under the Quarantine Act. These new Screening Officers will visit travellers’ quarantine locations to establish contact, confirm identify and confirm that travellers are at the place of quarantine they identified upon entry into Canada, to ensure that travellers are complying with the mandatory 14-day quarantine requirements. They will conduct these visits in 35 cities across the country, starting in Montreal and Toronto on January 29, 2021. A national phased roll-out will follow in the weeks ahead.

The Screening Officer may provide compliance education or issue verbal warnings, as required. Any cases that warrant a stronger enforcement action will be referred to PHAC, and PHAC will refer the case to law enforcement for follow-up.

[Moshe123]

Crazy.

[myi]

https://globalnews.ca/news/7607191/covid-canada-international-travel-restrictions/

 Wanted to pick up a car from Toronto, was hoping to be able to fly in from NY/NJ and then drive the car back across the border.
 Rather importing the car. Wonder if they'll make me issues.

 Not sure what would be for a US citizen who holds a Canadian citizenship and wants to enter Canada?
 Make you quarantine like a Canadian citizen?

[PlatinumGuy]

Not sure what would be for a US citizen who holds a Canadian citizenship and wants to enter Canada?
 Make you quarantine like a Canadian citizen?

Yes. Why not?

[myi]

Yes. Why not?

That means basically anyone that is allowed into the country is either in Canadian citizen or has another reason why is coming in and would need to go to the hotel for 3 days?

[PlatinumGuy]

That means basically anyone that is allowed into the country is either in Canadian citizen or has another reason why is coming in

That has been the case since March. Hotel will come into play at some point in the coming weeks.

[myi]

That has been the case since March. Hotel will come into play at some point in the coming weeks.

   So if I take a flight this week or sometime next week I'll be able to bypass the hotel restrictions and the covid test upon arriving?

 Want to pick up a vehicle from Toronto and bring back.
 Would stay for a day or two.

[PlatinumGuy]

   So if I take a flight this week or sometime next week I'll be able to bypass the hotel restrictions and the covid test upon arriving?

 Want to pick up a vehicle from Toronto and bring back.
 Would stay for a day or two.

Why don't you read your message again and see how difficult it would be for somebody to decipher what you mean?

The Federal Covid testing upon landing and hotel isolation in Canada will start at undetermined point 'in the coming weeks'. I'd guess it will happen in around 10 days as the hotels have a strong incentive to get this going.

From Monday, Ontario Province is mandating tests for those landing in YYZ - https://www.torontopearson.com/en/healthy-airport/covid-19-testing-at-toronto-pearson. They are also 'exploring additional testing measures at Pearson International Airport and land border crossings in the coming weeks'

[Yo ssi]

Perhaps fly to a neighboring city in US

[myi]

Perhaps fly to a neighboring city in US

And then rent a car one way into the us? Hitch a ride?

 Want to bring a car back from Toronto. So need to take a flight in.

 Would technically see if I can find someone to bring it for me that's looking to go across via the land border, but I want to import it to use in the US and will make it quite complicated with all the paperwork.