COVID-19: Canada To Quarantine Travelers, Suspend Flights To Mexico, Caribbean

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced some stricter restrictions on travelers in response deadly COVID-19 virus.

Trudeau explained that it is mandatory for travelers to quarantine in a hotel at their own expense when they arrive in Canada. 

He suspended airline service to Mexico and all Caribbean destinations until April 30, 2021, adding that the government will introduce mandatory PCR testing at the airport for people returning to Canada.

Trudeau via his official Twitter handle said, "Update on our border: We have some of the strictest border measures in the world, and today we’re strengthening them.

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"Starting this Sunday, non-essential trips to sun destinations - Mexico and the Caribbean - will be canceled until April 30th. Air Canada, Air Transat, Sunwing, and WestJet have agreed to suspend service to these locations.

"We are also strengthening measures to better control international flights. Starting next week, all international passenger flights must land at the following four airports: Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver.

"As soon as possible in the coming weeks, we will be introducing mandatory PCR testing at airports for people returning to Canada. Travelers will then have to wait for up to three days - at their own expense - at an approved hotel for their test results.

"Travelers with negative test results will have to quarantine at home for 14 days under increased surveillance and enforcement. Those with positive test results will be transferred to designated quarantine facilities.

"These new measures are in addition to the following restrictions already in place: Our border is closed to foreign travelers (it has been since last March); A negative test is required for flying back to Canada; A mandatory quarantine is in place when you return home".

Mexico’s Foreign Relations Department said in a statement that “the government of Mexico expresses its hope that the measure recently announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau can be withdrawn as soon as possible, in order to avoid a deep economic crisis in the North American Region.”

Trudeau said starting next week, all international passenger flights to Canada must land at four airports: Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary and Montreal.

“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.