Canada, which had already adopted some of the world’s most restrictive entrance requirements, has added on to them.
Before being allowed to board a flight to Canada, a negative PCR or LAMP test result should be presented. In most cases, it must have been taken fewer than 72 hours prior to the relevant departure time.
Through Jan. 13, travelers from a number of countries will have 96 hours, not 72. That is because those places have been deemed as having testing limitations.
They are all located in the Americas and include countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico. Also, no tests are required from those traveling from Saint Pierre et Miquelon through Jan. 13 and from Haiti through Jan. 20.
Passengers who are 4 years of age or younger are also exempt from testing.
This requirement has been added to the 14-day quarantine that those entering the country need to undergo. Travelers must also communicate their quarantine plans with border officials upon arrival.
If they are deemed to not be satisfactory, they will need to go to a quarantine facility that has been federally designated as such.
Quarantine violations can result in up to six months imprisonment and a fine of up to C$750,000 (USD $590,000).
Travelers must also provide requested information through ArriveCAN.
For the most part, the only people who can enter Canada are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, people who are associated with Canada’s Indian Act and family members of those individuals.
One of the factors that prompted these greater restrictions was the arrival of the more contagious COVID-19 variant that was initially discovered in the United Kingdom.
The initial confirmed cases in Canada were detected on Dec. 26 in Durham, Ontario. It has since been found in multiple other provinces as well.