Are You Sure About the Quarantine Checklist for Traveling to Canada During Pandemic 2021?
Did you just receive your visa to travel to Canada? While the Canadian government has permitted students carrying visas to pursue their favorite subjects in the country, there are numerous precautions that are to be taken to keep the deadly virus at bay. To travel to Canada, you need an electronic travel authorization. International travelers who want to obtain an ETA can follow this guide to obtain the Canadian ETA and know what they require doing to get an online entry permit.
So, if you’ve planned to travel to Canada, you should remain aware of what has to be expected out of your visit during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A look into the basic situation of Canada
Canada is presently dealing with its third wave where it reports an average of 8,000 COVID-19 cases a day. There are stringent rules for tourists entering the country, including the citizens of Canada as well as their relatives. Anyone who arrive at Canada will have to quarantine for 14 days.
On the 22nd of April, Canada declared the ban of all passenger flights from Pakistan and India for the next 30 days. Tourists who come from these two aforementioned countries but arrive in Canada through an indirect route, will require showing a negative COVID-19 departure test from another country before they carry on with their trip to Canada.
People who are 5 years and above and who are flying to Canada need to show an electronic document that reads that the traveler has had a negative result from COVID-19 PCR or RT-LAMP test conducted within the last 72 hours before boarding the flight.
During this 2021 COVID-19 third wave, as there are travelers who have already received their double-dose vaccine, they need to know that they too aren’t exempt from any of the aforementioned rules.
3 Terms you’ll overhear while traveling during the pandemic
SOCIAL DISTANCING: This means you will require maintaining a minimum distance of 6-feet or 2 meters between you and others when you speak to each other. Crowded places are to be completely avoided.
SELF MONITORING: You need to monitor your health every day, like your temperature, pulse per minute and oxygen level.
QUARANTINE & SELF-ISOLATION: Once you reach Canada, you’ll have to self-isolate yourself and avoid coming into contact with anyone else.
Tips for students traveling to Canada – What to do before you leave for Canada
Congrats that you’ve finally received your visa and you’re at last traveling to Canada. Before you leave for this exotic country, make sure you have a plan ready for isolation. What does this mean? Read on.
- You need to have instant access to information of the places where you’re going to stay. Try to have contact details of the person with whom you’d be staying and also keep emergency contacts that you might need during your quarantine period.
- In case you don’t find a place to quarantine, you can also isolate in the place prepared by Chief Public Health Officer of Canada.
- Check with the institution whether or not there’re a list of precautions that you need to take.
- Carry with yourself your quarantine supplies like 30-60 face masks, a large bottle of alcohol-based sanitizer, face tissues, thermometer, clothing, wet wipes and toiletries.
What to do after reaching Canada
As already mentioned, it is mandatory for you to isolate yourself for 14 days, regardless of whether you’re having COVID-19 symptoms. This period hits off as soon as you land in the country. Here are the things to ensure on reaching Canada:
- Don’t use public transport for reaching the location of isolation. Opt for private transport like Lyft, Uber and Yellow Cab.
- Don’t stop anywhere while moving towards your destination like stops at medicine stores or groceries or anything that you didn’t pack with you.
- Plan the period of isolation way ahead of time.
- Stay indoors till you complete the self-isolation period.
- In case you wish to order food, consider using Skipthedishes, UberEats or Flipp to reap the benefits of doorstep delivery.
- Have a list handy of all local health authorities as shared by the Government of Canada.
Who all can enter Canada?
You can travel to Canada and enter the country if you’re a:
- Citizen of Canada
- Dual Canadian citizen who is either a holder of valid Canadian passport or special authorization
- A permanent Canadian resident
- A protected person and
- A person registered with the Canada’s Indian Act (if you’re traveling from India)
Are you visiting Canada for compassionate reasons?
Are you a foreign citizen who’s traveling to Canada for any compassionate or unavoidable emergency reason? If yes, you have to grab an authorization from the PHAC or Public Health Agency of Canada to travel to or enter Canada. Here are few instances of compassionate reasons:
- Offering support to someone who is declared to be critically sick
- Being present at the last rites of a loved one who’s staying in Canada
- Attending the final moments of life of a near and dear one
- Offering care to someone who is in medical need for support
What can visitors expect on reaching Canada?
The mandates of wearing a mask vary from one province to another. Due to the third wave, there are restrictions that are being imposed in several provinces and traveling between provinces is also prohibited. Bars and restaurants are shut down in British Columbia but take-out delivery and outdoor patio seating is still allowed.
The Alberta province has put a ban on restaurants and bars from providing in-person dining. Restaurants and bars are also limited in Toronto. There’s a curfew being imposed in Montreal from 9.30 p.m. to 5 a.m.
So, if you’re a student who is all set to visit Canada, stay aware of the fact that majority of the institutions arrange safe pickups from airports for their students. In case of any doubt, apprehension or queries, feel free to speak to your institution’s counselor.
Author Bio:
Susan Noel is an experienced content writer. She is associated with many renowned travel blogs as a guest author where she shares her valuable travel tips with the audience.