Toronto 
Credit: Prime Ministers Office
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada will be closing its borders to all those who are not citizens or permanent residents of Canada. U.S. Citizens are exempt from this restriction at this time. This is effective Wednesday, March 18, at 12:00 p.m. (noon) EDT.
Aircrew, diplomats, travellers arriving in Canada in transit to a third country, and immediate family members of citizens are also exempted from this restriction.
Foreign nationals from all countries – except the United States – will no longer be allowed to enter Canada. This does not include air crews, travellers heading to a third country, diplomats, immediate family members of Canadian citizens, or permanent residents.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) March 16, 2020
Trudeau said, “This measure will carve out some designated exceptions including for aircrews, diplomats, immediate family members of Canadian citizens, and at this time, U.S. citizens.”
We will be limiting international flight arrivals to four major airports: Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, Montreal-Trudeau, and Calgary. Domestic flights and flights from the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, and St. Pierre-et-Miquelon are not affected.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) March 16, 2020
All international flights except those coming from U.S. and Mexico will be restricted to four airports in Canada – Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, Vancouver International Airport, Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, and Calgary International Airport. This does not apply to domestic flights or flights from the United States, sun destinations such as Mexico and the Caribbean, or St. Pierre-et-Miquelon. These flights can continue to operate on their regular routes and land at current Canadian destinations.
Trudeau said that Airlines should also deny boarding of a traveller who is symptomatic, regardless of citizenship status, and keep them from going on an international flight to Canada. This includes trans-border flights, including those from the United States. The pre-boarding health assessment would include the operator asking simple health questions, looking for visible signs of illness before boarding, and possibly referring the traveller for a further medical assessment.
The Prime Minister also strongly urged all travellers should self-isolate for 14 days upon entry, with exceptions for workers who are essential to the movement of goods and people.
