Mandatory Isolation
Classification: Unclassified
Branch/Agency: TB/CBSA
Proposed Response:
- The Government continues to introduce border measures to limit the introduction and spread of COVID-19.
- Restrictions are already in place since March 21 for non-essential, discretionary travel for individuals travelling from the United States in all modes, as well as, foreign nationals coming to Canada by air or marine.
- Effective later today, anyone entering Canada, by air, sea or land, whether or not they have signs and symptoms of COVID 19, will be ordered to self-isolate for 14 days.
- Those workers that cross the border on a regular basis, such as truck drivers, firefighters and medical workers, as well as travellers who enter into Canada, to receive essential services will continue to be permitted to enter and will be exempt from the new requirement for mandatory isolation provided they are asymptomatic.
- Those individuals exempt from the order mandatory isolation will, however, be required to continually self monitor and practice proper self isolation measures when not performing their duties..
- There are also exemptions in place to ensure that critical infrastructure, essential services and economic supply chains continue between Canada and the U.S..
Background:
To further prevent the introduction or spread of COVID-19, anyone entering Canada, by air, sea or land, whether or not they have signs and symptoms of COVID 19, is required to self-isolate for 14 days, effective on March 25, 2020.
The order requires that any person, subject to the exemptions under the current travel restrictions, must:
- Isolate themselves without delay in accordance with instructions provided by a CBSA screening officer or a PHAC quarantine officer and remain in isolation until the expiry of the 14-day period that begins on the day on which the person enters Canada; and
- Monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 until the expiry of the 14-day period an, if they develop any signs or symptoms of COVID-19, follow instructions provide by the public health authority specified by a screening officer or quarantine officer.
Disclosure of Illness
In addition, any person entering Canada who has a fever and a cough, or a fever and difficulty breathing, or who has reasonable grounds to suspect they have these symptoms, must disclose that fact to a screening officer or quarantine officer. For the period of the isolation, the individual must also undergo any health assessments that a quarantine officer requires, monitor their signs and symptoms, and report to the public health authority specified by a screening officer or quarantine officer if they require additional medical care.
Exemptions to the mandatory self-isolation order:
- Persons making necessary medical deliveries of cells, blood and blood products, tissues, organs, or other similar lifesaving human body parts, that are required for patient care in Canada.
- Asymptomatic persons in the trade and transportation sector who are important for the movement of goods and people, including truck drivers and crew on any plane, train or marine vessel, and that cross the border while performing their duties or for the purpose of performing their duties.
- Asymptomatic persons who have to cross the border regularly to go to work, including in the health care sector or critical infrastructure workers for the purpose of performing their duties.
- Asymptomatic persons who have to cross the border to provide or receive essential services, including emergency responders and personnel providing essential services to Canadians related to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Contacts:
Approved by: Denis Vinette, Vice-President, Travellers Branch, 613-952-5269/613-290-0656
- Date modified: