Toronto 
Canada is bringing back mandatory isolation for travellers returning from international travel except those from the United States to combat the spread of the new COVID-19 variant of concern, Omicron.
The new restrictions were announced today.
The federal government says inbound air travellers from all countries except the U.S. will be tested for COVID-19 at the point of entry airport and they will have to isolate, even if fully vaccinated until the results of the tests come back negative.
The government says fully vaccinated individuals can isolate themselves at home.
Unvaccinated air travellers, with the right of entry to Canada (Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and people with status under the Indian Act), will continue to be tested on arrival and day 8 and quarantine for 14 days. They will now be required to stay in a designated quarantine facility or other suitable location while they await the result of their on arrival test.
Canada also announced enhanced rules for travellers from select African countries including mandatory quarantine at point of entry until negative tests are received. The government also added Egypt, Malawi and Nigeria to the list of countries with incoming travel prohibition. This is effective December 1st.
Announcing the new rules, Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos said, “We are taking quick action at our borders to mitigate travel-related importations of the Omicron variant. While our monitoring systems are working well, we now know that the Omicron variant is present in Canada. We need to remain vigilant in our own actions.”
Previously announced requirements of all air travellers requiring a valid negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the scheduled departure time of their last direct flight to Canada (at the place of transit if taking a connecting flight) are still in place.
For Those From Some African Countries:
Foreign nationals who have been in any of these countries within the previous 14 days will not be permitted entry into Canada:
- Botswana
- Egypt;
- Eswatini;
- Lesotho;
- Malawi;
- Mozambique;
- Namibia;
- Nigeria;
- South Africa; and
- Zimbabwe.
Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and people with status under the Indian Act who have been in these countries—Botswana, Egypt, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zimbabwe—in the 14 days before travel to Canada will be required to:
- Obtain, within 72 hours of departure, a valid negative COVID-19 molecular test in a third country before continuing their journey to Canada,
- Complete testing upon arrival to Canada, regardless of their vaccination status or having had a previous history of testing positive for COVID-19,
- Required to complete a test on Day 8 after arrival and quarantine for 14 days.
- Those arriving by air will be required to stay in a designated quarantine facility while they await their arrival test result. They will be permitted onward travel once they have received a negative arrival test result.
- Those arriving by land may be allowed to proceed directly to their suitable quarantine location. If they do not have a suitable and robust quarantine plan—where they will not have contact with anyone with whom they haven’t travelled with—or do not have private transportation to their place of quarantine, they will be directed to stay at a designated quarantine facility.
See here for all the latest rules regarding entry into Canada.
