Ottawa extends rules and restrictions for travellers amid rising COVID-19 case counts
A slew of travel restrictions and rules meant to curb the spread of COVID-19 will be extended into January, the federal government said Sunday, as case counts continued to rise steadily across the country.
In a statement, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair and Health Minister Patty Hajdu said the measures would be in effect until Jan. 21, 2021 for travellers entering Canada from a country other than the United States.
The rules were first imposed near the start of the global outbreak.
“We have introduced a number of policies to keep Canadians safe but must remain flexible and adapt to the evolving COVID-19 situation,” Blair said in a statement.
The ministers said restrictions for visitors crossing the border from the U.S. are currently in place until Dec. 21, but may be extended.
Among the new rules is a requirement for anyone entering the country to self-isolate for 14 days.
But the ministers also said they’re looking to make it possible for “high-performance, amateur sporting organizations” to hold major international events on Canadian soil.
They said the successful applicants would need to present a public health plan as well as show they’ve secured the support of provincial and territorial governments and health authorities.