June 9, 2021 – The federal government announced plans to loosen the quarantine measures in place for travellers with the right to enter Canada. These travellers include Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and essential workers, who will soon face a significantly different quarantine upon entry into the country.
Travellers entering Canada by air will no longer have to proceed to a designated COVID-19 hotel to quarantine while they await a negative COVID-19 test result taken once they arrive in Canada.
All travellers entering Canada will still be required to present proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result obtained within 72 hours prior to their entry into Canada and will still be required to take a COVID-19 test upon arrival. However, fully vaccinated individuals will now be permitted to proceed to their own quarantine location to await the results of this test rather than staying in a government-approved hotel. Further, if the results of the test are negative, these individuals will no longer be required to remain in their place of quarantine for the 14-day period previously mandated.
Individuals are considered “fully vaccinated” in Canada two weeks after their final dose of a Canadian authorized vaccine, which includes Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson.
It is expected that individuals, who are not fully vaccinated or have been vaccinated with a vaccine not approved in Canada, will still be required to stay in an approved hotel initially and abide by the 14-day quarantine upon re-entry into Canada along with testing requirements.
While no implementation date has been confirmed, the government estimates that the measures will take effect in early July. After these measures are introduced, the government anticipates continued loosening of border restrictions in the coming months.
If you have any questions concerning upcoming travel and your obligations to quarantine in Canada, please contact our office.
