PC 2021-0825 Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order – Quarantine, Isolation and Other Obligations

Date Announced:

August 6, 2021

Active Period:

This Order comes into force at 12:01:00 a.m. EDT on August 9, 2021 and extends the restrictions on entry into Canada until September 21, 2021. Section 7.1 comes into force at 12:01:00 a.m. EDT on September 7, 2021. Repealed by PC 2021-0904.

Overview:

This order is to (1) support Canada’s continued focus on reducing the introduction and further spread of COVID-19 by decreasing the risk of importing cases from outside the country; (2) maintain all requirements for all unvaccinated travellers to have a COVID-19 molecular test result before entering Canada, to undergo testing when entering and once again later in the 14-day post entry period, and to Covid Prevention Measures>Quarantine upon entry to Canada, subject to limited exceptions; (3) maintain mandatory traveller declarations on vaccination status, proof of vaccination, public health measures, and testing requirements for fully vaccinated persons; (4) exempt fully vaccinated persons entering by air or land from the requirement to Covid Prevention Measures>Quarantine provided they fulfill certain conditions; (5) remove the requirement for incoming air travellers to remain in government-authorized accommodations while they wait for the result of their on arrival test; (6) reduce the isolation period for symptomatic persons (and those testing positive) from 14 days to 10 days, based on the latest evidence on the infectious period of COVID-19; (7) require fully vaccinated foreign nationals seeking to enter Canada for a discretionary purpose by air mode to submit proof of vaccination prior to boarding a flight to Canada; (8) exempt unvaccinated children under the age of 12 who enter Canada with a fully vaccinated parent or guardian from Covid Prevention Measures>Quarantine, subject to enhanced public health measures; (9) exempt from Covid Prevention Measures>Quarantine persons over the age of 12 who are medically unable to receive a vaccine, subject to enhanced public health measures; (10) exempt from Covid Prevention Measures>Quarantine unvaccinated habitual residents of the remote communities of Point Roberts, Washington; Northwest Angle, Minnesota; and Hyder, Alaska when entering neighbouring Canadian communities to carry out everyday functions; (11) allow persons with a right of entry returning to Canada by land following travel to the United States, for less than 72 hours, to complete their pre-arrival test in Canada rather than in the United States; (12) provide the Chief Public Health Officer with the authority to implement, as needed, a surveillance-based testing program through mandatory randomized testing; (13) require persons travelling to Canada by marine vessel to have a negative COVID-19 test result before entering Canada, with limited exceptions; (14) restrict limited release from Covid Prevention Measures>Quarantine provisions on compassionate grounds to urgent situations that preclude the ability to plan for Covid Prevention Measures>Quarantine; (15) allow fully vaccinated travellers to provide direct care for persons 65 years and older during the 14 days following entry, while maintaining the prohibition for unvaccinated persons; (16) refine requirements for suitable isolation plans to include shared bathroom criteria; (17) increase the entry time limit for those who test positive as a result of a prior infection (from 14 to 180 days before entry, rather than from 14 to 90 days before entry); (18) require essential service travellers with a Chief Public Health Officer exemption from Covid Prevention Measures>Quarantine to submit vaccination status information, effective September 7, 2021

Departments and Agencies:

Health Canada | Privy Council Office | Public Health Agency of Canada

Type of Administrative Action:

  • Agency Directives
  • Covid Prevention Measures

    • Immigration Category:

    Everyone

    Keywords:

    compassionate grounds | government-authorized accommodations | isolation period | pre-arrival COVID-19 testing | randomized-testing | unvaccinated children

    Source Document(s):

    https://orders-in-council.canada.ca/attachment.php?attach=41062&lang=en

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