Canada’s updated Quarantine Act prohibits isolating with vulnerable people

The Government of Canada has issued an updated Emergency Order under the Quarantine Act to include additional measures that will help prevent further spread of COVID-19 and to protect people who are most vulnerable.

The government already requires people entering Canada—whether by air, land or sea —to isolate for 14 days if they have symptoms of COVID-19, or to quarantine themselves for 14 days if they are asymptomatic to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Now, any traveller arriving in Canada—whether they are symptomatic or asymptomatic—cannot isolate or quarantine in a place where they would be in contact with people who are vulnerable, such as adults aged 65 years or over and people with pre-existing medical conditions.

Upon arrival, every traveller will need to confirm that they have a suitable place to isolate or quarantine, where they will have access to basic necessities, such as food and medication.

"As our knowledge about COVID-19 evolves, we continue to adjust our response to this epidemic,” said Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health. “These changes will make it clearer to asymptomatic travellers arriving in Canada that they need to have an appropriate place to self-isolate, where they will not put any vulnerable people such as adults aged 65 years or over and people with pre-existing medical conditions at risk."

Make your own plans 

Travellers will be expected to make plans for where they will isolate or quarantine in advance of arriving in Canada.

Travellers who do not have an appropriate place in which to isolate or quarantine themselves must go to a place designated by the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada. These criteria are newly applied to asymptomatic travellers.

In addition, all travellers arriving in Canada will be required to wear a non-medical mask or face covering to proceed to their final destination where they will isolate or quarantine. They will be provided with a mask if they do not have one.

These new mandatory measures are an additional layer in Canada's actions to protect the health of Canadians, including persons aged 65 and over and people with pre-existing medical conditions, who are at greatest risk of severe health complications related to COVID-19.

"Canada's response to COVID-19 is based on the latest scientific evidence,” said Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada. “We will continue to keep Canadians informed about the risks of COVID-19 and the actions we must all take to plank the curve of this epidemic."

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