Canada is considering requiring travelers to be quarantined in a hotel on their own when they come to the country in response to new variants of the coronavirus.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at a news conference on Friday that his government is prepared to impose even stricter travel regulations than the country already has.
“No one should take a vacation abroad now,” said Trudeau. “If you have a plan, cancel it. And don’t book a spring break trip.”
Trudeau also said he discussed “the range of options” for new travel restrictions with Canadian premieres on Thursday. One such option could include requiring travelers to be quarantined in a hotel, rather than in their homes.
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Canada currently requires people entering the country to isolate themselves for 14 days and submit a negative COVID-19 test done three days before arrival.
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During another press conference on Thursday, Quebec Prime Minister François Legault mentioned the potential for mandatory hotel quarantine.
(Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press via AP) “/> Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gives a press conference at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Friday, January 22, 2021. During the press conference, Trudeau said his government is prepared to impose even stricter travel regulations than the country already has.
(Sean Kilpatrick / The Canadian Press via AP)
According to a press release, Legault said he is considering “forcing all those returning from travel to do a 14-day quarantine in a supervised hotel room, which they will have to pay for themselves”.
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The statement said Legault is discussing this measure – as well as a possible ban on non-essential international travel – with the federal government.
“Although new variants of the virus are wreaking havoc in countries like the United Kingdom, now is not the time for Quebecers to travel abroad,” the statement said.
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Recent variants of the virus that have emerged in the UK, South Africa and Brazil appear to spread more easily and scientists say this will lead to more cases, deaths and hospitalizations. They are also concerned about any potential ability to eventually reduce vaccine effectiveness.
The Associated Press contributed to this report