The Government of Canada has recently provided clearer guidelines for Canadian travellers returning home from abroad. The Government of Canada has put in place an Emergency Order under the Quarantine Act that applies to all travellers arriving in Canada in order to slow the introduction and spread of COVID-19 in Canada.
Travellers WITHOUT symptoms: mandatory quarantine
If you have recently returned to Canada and you have no symptoms, you must QUARANTINE (self-isolate) yourself. This is mandatory. You are at risk of developing symptoms and infecting others.
This means you MUST:
- go directly to your place of quarantine, without delay, and stay there for 14 days
- do not go to school, work, other public areas and community settings
- monitor your health for symptoms of COVID-19
- arrange to have someone pick up essentials like groceries or medication for you
- do not have visitors
- stay in a private place like your yard or balcony if you go outside for fresh air
- keep a distance of at least 2 arms lengths (approximately 2 metres) from others
You can take public transportation to get to your place of self-isolation after you arrive in Canada, but you must not stop on the way home and practice physical (social) distancing at all times.
Violating any instructions provided to you when you entered Canada could lead to up to six months in prison and/or $750,000 in fines.
If you develop symptoms within 14 days:
- isolate yourself from others
- immediately call a health care professional or public health authority and:
- describe your symptoms and travel history
- follow their instructions carefully
You can go for a walk if you:
- have not been diagnosed with COVID-19;
- do not have symptoms of COVID-19;
- have not travelled outside of Canada in the past 14 days.
Travellers WITH symptoms: mandatory isolation
If you have recently returned to Canada and you have symptoms, you must ISOLATE. This is mandatory. If required, immediate medical attention will be provided upon arrival in Canada.
Mandatory isolation means you MUST:
- go directly to the place where you will isolate, without delay, and stay there for 14 days
- go to your place of isolation using private transportation only, such as your personal vehicle
- stay INSIDE your home
- do not leave your place of isolation unless it’s to seek medical attention
- do not go to school, work, other public areas or use public transportation such as buses and taxis
- stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom from others in your home, if possible
- do not have visitors and limit contact with others in the place of isolation, including children
- do not isolate in a place where you will have contact with vulnerable people such as older adults and individuals with underlying medical conditions
- if your symptoms get worse, immediately contact your health care provider or public health authority and follow their instructions
If you have symptoms but do not have a place to isolate, you will be required to isolate for 14 days in a facility designated by the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada.
Violating any instructions provided to you when you entered Canada could lead to up to six months in prison and/or $750,000 in fines.
We advise members to review the information being provided by the Government of Canada, here. As the situation continues to evolve, the CSA will be providing updates to our members.
