Ontario continues to be in a Provincewide shutdown which includes a Stay at Home order. Residents are discouraged from travelling outside their region or province, and new rules on International travel went into effect this week.
Currently, Canada’s airline and government have suspended all flights to and from Mexico and Caribbean countries until April 30, 2021. International commercial passenger flights coming from the United State, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America will be required to land at only four Canadian airports: Montréal-Trudeau International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, Calgary International Airport, and Vancouver International Airport. Private/Business and charter flights from all countries are required to land at one of the four airports as well.
Proof of a negative COVID-19 test is also required to fly, and soon, all travelers arriving in Canada will have to reserve a room in a Government of Canada-approved hotel for three nights and take a COVID-19 molecular test upon arrival. The cost of accommodations and testing is the responsibility of the traveler.
The government is also planning a testing requirement for those entering the country by land, with limited exceptions for people such as commercial truckers.
Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport, said, “The safety of the travelling public and the transportation industry are top priorities. Our government continues to strongly advise against non-essential travel outside Canada, and has implemented many measures to protect the health of Canadians in our transportation system. The expansion of the flight restrictions is based on decisive, public health rationale from the Public Health Agency of Canada to further protect Canadians from the health impacts of COVID-19.”
Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand
