Canada Covid-19
Canada announces new rules on international travel to fight pandemic. Credit: Can Pac Swire.

The Government of Canada has intensified restrictions on international travel with additional measures to prevent the transmission of Covid-19 and new variants of the virus into the country.

In addition to the existing measures, the Government of Canada, along with Canada’s airlines, have suspended all flights to and from Mexico and Caribbean countries until 30 April 2021, effective from 31 January 2021.

Additionally, Transport Canada has expanded the existing international flight restrictions to scheduled commercial passenger flights arriving from the US, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America into four Canadian airports. It will be effective starting 3 February.

Moreover, private / business and charter flights from all countries will also be required to land at the four airports.

Air travellers are required to quarantine in a hotel at their own expense for at least three days when they arrive in Canada.

Flights from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon and cargo-only flights are exempted from the restriction.

Canada Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said: “The safety of the travelling public and the transportation industry are top priorities. Our government continues to strongly advise against non-essential travel outside Canada and has implemented many measures to protect the health of Canadians in our transportation system.

“The expansion of the flight restrictions is based on decisive, public health rationale from the Public Health Agency of Canada to further protect Canadians from the health impacts of Covid-19.”

Last month, the UK Government temporarily suspended all travel corridors to prevent and protect citizens from the risks of unidentified new strains of Covid-19.