From the “just when you thought it might be time to think about getting back in the water” department. Because of new Covid variants, delays in vaccines, challenges with getting people vaccinated, and continued strains on already stressed health care systems, governments are imposing additional restrictions on travel as part of a more aggressive approach to stopping the pandemic.
On January 29, 2021, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced new travel restrictions including an agreement with airlines to suspend travel to the Caribbean and Mexico. Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing, and Air Transat are suspending service to those destinations starting January 31, until at least April 30, 2021, and are organizing return travel for those currently abroad.
In the coming weeks, Canada will also mandate new testing and quarantine periods upon arrival in Canada. In addition to the pre-departure Covid test Canada already requires, the government will require PCR testing at the airport for people returning to Canada.
Travelers will then have to wait for for their test results for up to three days at an approved hotel, at their own expense, which is expected to be more than $2,000 for a three-day stay. The steep price is due to costs of a private PCR test, security, food and measures the designated hotels will have to take to keep their workers safe.
Even after testing negative on arrival, travelers will quarantine at home for an additional period under significantly increased surveillance and enforcement. Security contractors will go door-to-door to check on returnees who are isolating at home.
Starting next week, all international passenger flights to Canada will be allowed to only land at Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary or Montreal.
Canada is also tightening its land borders with the U.S. for non-essential travelers.
Final Thoughts
Ever-changing travel restrictions are a big impediment to international travel. Even if you are comfortable with the requirements for entry when you depart, there is no guarantee that those conditions will not have become more restrictive or even infeasible when you would like to come home.
In Quebec, Canada, we are still wearing masks and there is a curfew. It has been difficult.
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Federal and most state governments haven’t made wearing masks mandatory at all times. Most businesses and buildings require them though. Stay well. Vaccines aren’t far off.
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It makes me wonder what would have happened if these travel restrictions were put in place sooner. I was hoping more travel options would become available with vaccines being rolled-out, but looks like we’ll have to wait a bit longer.
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The whole world was primarily worried about their economies. The mutations could be big problems.
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I guess we just have to live with the possibility that it may be some time before people feel safe about traveling by airplane…
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Sadly that is becoming clear.
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😕
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It feels like travel is getting harder not easier sadly. Tough requirements but here its much tougher.
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Australia is tough. It makes flight crew follow pretty much the same restrictions as everyone else. Not clear if Canada will do the same.
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♡ Told you this would get worse before it gets better My Brother, My Friend; both WHO (WHO ARE probably funded by Pharmaceuticals) ARE Squabbling Internally as ARE Those Externally Squabbling about WHO Produces The Most Effective Vaccine to The Exent of withdrawing vaccine “variants” due to adverse effects and ineffective results against virus “variants”…so perhaps this is Mother Natures Wake Up Call for Us to Trust Our AutoImmune System; otherwise there may well be another culling of Our Human Race like that of Lemuria, Atlantis, Ancient Greeks, The Romans Empire et al, Time Will Tell
…♡♡♡…
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Mother nature needs help with this virus. Without vaccine, the virus will eventually “just go away” after killing and sickening millions in US alone.
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♡ The vaccine is “killing and sickening” many people My Friend, My Brother; perhaps Mother Nature wants this vaccine gone like Thalidomide, so take your chances just like EveryOne Else
…♡♡♡…
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Who are the many people you say are being killed or sickened? I’m not one of them.
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♡ The Money Makers Cover Up My Brother, My Friend and Control ALL the Information We Receive; to put it in Fair Frame I AM One who is NOT!!! being “killed or sickened” by what I consider to be FalseHoods while Survial of The Fittest Continues to Assert itself, so do what You what You Will…wait and SEE (Soulful Emotional Energy), I AM NOT!!! in control Mother Nature is; ask ALL the Extinct Species like Dinosaurs who ARE NOW!!! Birds
…♡♡♡…
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My parents were glad we didn’t leave the country. They didn’t see this one coming. Too many restrictions to come back to Canada 🙁
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That is one of the problems with the pandemic. Things change constantly. It is very hard to plan with certainty. Glad your family is doing well!
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👍🏽
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