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COVID-19: Travelers to Canada will now need a negative COVID-19 test

Wed Feb 03, 2021

Travelers to Canada must get a negative COVID-19 test within three days of arrival. The test should be a PCR test, which is currently recognized as the most effective coronavirus test. This policy takes effect on January 7, 2021.

In addition, there will be more border officials at Canada's ports of entry to ensure that newcomers understand these new rules. Public Health Minister Bill Blair also stated that this won’t replace the 14-day quarantine requirement. Details are not yet finalized and more information is expected to be available in the coming days.

The law requires that all people arriving in Canada be quarantined for 14 days. This means they must be staying indoors at all times and shoul0064 have a plan for how they will get food, food, and medicine. Those who violate quarantine rules can face up to six months in prison or up to C $ 750,000 in fines.

The new measure is introduced after Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé called on federal authorities to step up COVID-19 screening of arriving travelers. The province had also previously closed non-essential stores.

It is also a reaction to the increase in COVID-19 cases across the country. There have been a growing number of cases as the winter progressed, with more than 550,000 cases in total as of December 29.

Canada started administering COVID-19 vaccines earlier this month, when Canada received its first batch of the Pfizer vaccine. The Moderna vaccine also began to arrive in Canada.

Checklist for travelers to Canada

1. Travelers must have a negative PCR test for COVID-19 obtained up to three days prior to travel.
2. Travelers should have a 14-day quarantine plan. They must know how they want to get to your quarantine site and how they want to get essential items such as food, groceries or medicine.
3. Travelers must install the ArriveCAN mobile app in their phones before traveling to Canada. They must provide personal information as well as their flight details. They must also complete a daily self-assessment on the app.

Sources: https://www.cicnews.com/2020/12/travellers-to-canada-will-now-need-a-negative-covid-19-test-1216664.html#gs.rxkgtz