The Canadian government has announced that travellers returning from abroad will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days. Non-compliance may result in jail time or substantial fines, highlighting the seriousness of adhering to this directive.
The emergency order for mandatory self-isolation is enforced under the Quarantine Act. Minister of Health Patty Hajdu announced this mandate on March 25, stating, “The number of cases of COVID-19 is increasing daily – both at home and globally. Earlier this month, we asked travellers entering Canada to self-isolate for 14 days. To protect the health and safety of returning Canadians and those who are around them, we are strengthening our measures at the border.”
Furthermore, the order allows border control to collect contact information for individuals entering Canada and ensures they follow the directive to self-isolate, as stated by Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland in a press briefing. “As of midnight, this quarantine becomes mandatory,” she said. “Let me emphasise: you should be doing it already.”
When the quarantine was declared, nearly 3,500 individuals in Canada had been diagnosed with COVID-19. Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam remarked in a following briefing that even though there had been a recent increase in confirmed cases, the country’s fatality rate stood at only 1%, indicating that the healthcare system was not yet overwhelmed.
Dr. Tam noted, “We’re now seeing a snapshot of the severity of COVID-19 in Canada. The seriousness of this disease cannot be overstated. Older adults and those with medical conditions are at high risk, but younger people are not immune. Not only can people of all ages get sick and become severely ill, but the impact on our health system will affect the health of all.”
According to the country’s public health agency, violations of the Quarantine Act can incur penalties of up to $1 million, three years in prison, or both. Spot checks will be conducted to verify compliance with the quarantine measures.
“This is a step we can all take to protect the health and safety of Canadians,” Freeland stated. “If we can flatten the curve, then we can return to normal life more quickly.”
The coronavirus (COVID-19) is now a global pandemic. Understand the implications for travellers during this time.
