Canada Begins Closeing Down International Travel

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on January 29, 2021, certain airlines have agreed to suspend service to destinations in the Caribbean and Mexico, starting the 29th, until April 30, 2021.

"With the challenges we currently face with the COVID-19 pandemic, both here at home and abroad, we all agree that now is just not the time to be flying," said Trudeau outside his home at Rideau Cottage.

Furthermore, Trudeau stated 'Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing, and Air Transat airlines will be making arrangements with their customers currently in these regions to organize flights home.

And starting in February, all international passenger flights will land at the Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, and Montreal airports, said Trudeau. This change includes flights from the USA.

The prime minister also announced the Canadian government would be introducing mandatory PCR testing at airports for people returning to Canada, on top of the pre-boarding test requirements already mandated. Travelers will then have to wait up to three days at an approved hotel for their test results, at their own expense, which Trudeau said is expected to be more than $2,000.

Those with a negative test will then be able to finish their 14-day quarantine at home, with increased surveillance.

On January 28, 2021, the Public Health Agency of Canada issued the following statement: 'As COVID-19 activity continues in Canada, we are tracking a range of epidemiological indicators to monitor where the disease is most active, where it is spreading and how it is impacting the health of Canadians and public health, laboratory, and healthcare capacity.'

'The latest national-level data indicate a recent downward trend in daily case counts. While this suggests that community-based measures may be starting to take effect, it is too soon to be sure that current measures are strong enough and broad enough to maintain a steady downward trend.'