Canada announces travelers to wait for COVID-19 results in hotels

Trudeau had earlier announced that stricter restrictions would be imposed on non-essential air travelers in response to new, probably more contagious coronavirus variants.

Government officials have confirmed that non-essential air travelers - with limited exceptions - must book a three-night stay in a government hotel before leaving for Canada.

Those crossing the border of the United States over land do not have to isolate themselves at a hotel but must show a negative test to be tested within three days prior to arrival, and they must be tested on arrival as well as on the end of a 14-day quarantine around the home or elsewhere.

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair stated less than five percent of those crossing the border are not essential, which is one reason why hotel accommodation is not needed for those going ashore.

According to Johns Hopkins University, Canada, a country of nearly 36 million people, has confirmed more than 823,000 cases of coronavirus and suffered 21,142 deaths.

The measures are particularly affecting Canadian "snowbirds" that overwinter abroad and return home in the spring.

Health Minister Patty Hajdu said vaccinated Canadians would not be released because research is not yet detailed whether those vaccinated can still transmit the virus to others.

Some Canadian 'snowbirds' are vaccinated in Florida and Arizona.

Trudeau declared it could take up to three days for test results to be available, and he said earlier that the cost of a hotel stay for air travelers could be $ 2,000 Canadian ($ 1,576 US).

The hefty cost of hotel accommodation includes the cost of safety, food and measures that hotels must take to keep their workers safe.

Travelers will then separate at home or abroad if the test is negative. Canada already demands those entering the country to isolate themselves for 14 days and prohibit non-essential travel to the country.

The Canadian Snowbird Association said the cost of hotel accommodation is financially difficult for many, and travelers who test negative should be able to quarantine their homes.

Some snowbirds fly back before a hotel stay is necessary. Dr Morley Rubinoff, 71, stated to the Associated Press he left his apartment in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, about six weeks earlier this year to avoid what he calls "hotel hell."

The half-retired dental specialist said he arrived in Mexico on December 31 and planned to stay until mid-March before returning to Toronto.

Theresa Tam, head of public health officials, said on Friday that more than 429 cases of a worrying variant had been identified in the UK for the first time, and that 28 cases of the variant had been identified for the first time in South Africa. reported in eight provinces. So far, there has been only one report of the variant first found in Brazil.

Although Canada received far more vaccines than it needed to cover its population, it was slow to arrive, much to the frustration of seeing a faster rollout in the neighboring US.

Canadian officials said Trudeau spoke with U.S. President Joe Biden about the possibility of obtaining Pfizer vaccines from a plant in nearby Michigan, of which the U.S. government is already receiving the first 100 million doses.

"I think the president was public and certainly private when it came to the conversation that his focus is now on ensuring that the American people are vaccinated," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Friday. asked about Canada.