What to include in a quarantine plan

Arabnews24.ca:Monday 25 May 2020 03:19 PM: Do you know what to include in a quarantine plan? It is now a legal requirement for all people who enter Canada to isolate themselves from others for 14 days. So you need to create a plan to meet requirements such as immediately traveling to your place of isolation, and showing how you plan to get essentials. But what else should you consider? Find out why a plan is essential and how you can meet the quarantine requirement.

With a well thought out plan, you can avoid serious penalties. And because you will be unable to leave your quarantine location, you must prepare so that you have essentials such as food and medication.

The Government of Canada has put in place emergency measures to slow the introduction and spread of COVID-19 in Canada. You MUST quarantine for 14 days and monitor yourself for symptoms subject to the Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (Mandatory Isolation) No. 2.

 

Your compliance with this Order is subject to monitoring, verification and enforcement. Those in violation may face detention in a quarantine facility as well as fines and/or imprisonment.

So this means that you must or isolate yourself for 14 days as soon as you enter Canada. This applies to people with or without COVID-19 symptoms. And isolating yourself is necessary to:

Limit the spread of COVID-19 Protect vulnerable people (people over the age of 65, and those with pre-existing health conditions, or weak immune systems) Flatten the COVID-19 curve.

 

Why you need a quarantine plan

 

A quarantine plan is a legal requirement that the government of Canada can enforce. A quarantine plan will hold you responsible to follow legal isolation requirements. So before you travel to Canada you must think about what to include in a quarantine plan. 

 

If you’ve come back to Canada from abroad, as of today we are strengthening measures. Now, if asymptomatic travellers cannot explain a credible quarantine plan, they will be required to quarantine in a hotel.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, May 20, 2020

 

WATCH: Prime Minister announces new quarantine measures for travelers

Enforcing the quarantine requirement

 

When you arrive in Canada, border officials from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will ask you questions about your quarantine plan. So you must provide them with the address where you will quarantine or isolate, and answer other questions.  And if you do not have a suitable place to isolate, you will have to go to a place such as a hotel or other federal site.

 

Download our updated immigration checklists with new Quarantine Plan Checklist:

 

Public health officials, and local police can enforce the quarantine requirements. So you also have to complete a contact tracing form using either:

The ArriveCAN mobile app (ensure you have the official version) An accessible web-based form, or A paper form.

You can get the ArriveCAN mobile app here: Android or iOS

More about ArriveCan

 

ArriveCan is a tool that can be used to: 

Collect information from people who enter Canada Enforce legal quarantine requirements Help contain the spread of COVID-19.

And when you use ArriveCAN to provide your travel details, you can reduce  wait times at Canadian ports of entry and limit points of contacts. The app works in airplane mode and allows you to save your information and submit it upon arrival at the airport or border.

You will need to enter a token to submit your information. And you can get a token at Canadian airports and borders when you arrive.

 

Complying with quarantine requirements

It’s important that officials know how to contact you while you are isolating yourself.

To make sure that you comply with the quarantine requirement, the government will conduct spot checks. And if you do not follow the quarantine plan, you can face a penalty that may include: 

A fine up to $750,000 A prison sentence up to six months Both a fine and a prison sentence.

And if you knowingly cause a risk of death, the penalty is even greater. For example, you can:

Face a fine up to $1,000,000 Go to prison for up to three years, or Get a fine and prison time.

As you can see, these are serious penalties. The good news is that you can prepare a quarantine plan. Doing so will help you to avoid a penalty and protect yourself and others. And you will be doing your part to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Landing in Canada during COVID-19

 

Until further notice all international flights will land at the following four Canadian airports: 

Vancouver (YVR) Calgary (YYC) Montreal (YUL) Toronto (YYZ)

So you will have to isolate yourself in the city where you land. If you are going to another city, you can only travel to that city after your 14 day isolation period is over.

You will also require a non-medical face mask or covering to travel to your place of isolation. If you do not have one, an airport official will give one to you.

Related Post: 

My PR application was approved on March 18, can I travel to Canada?

 

Join our free webinar and find out answers to your important immigration questions:

 

What to include in a quarantine plan

 

Consider the following questions when you create your quarantine plan:

Have you arranged a location to stay for your 14-day isolation period in your arrival city? Until further notice, international flights are landing at four Canadian airports: Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal.

2. Is there anyone at your isolation location who may be vulnerable to COVID-19? This may include someone who:  

Is over age 60 Has a medical condition such as: heart disease; high blood pressure; asthma or other lung disease; diabetes; cancer; immune suppression; or taking prednisone medication.

You may have to locate a different quarantine location if people who may be vulnerable to COVID-19 reside will be present.

3. Have you arranged how you will travel from the airport to your isolation address? You will not be able to use public transport including city buses, trains, and subways. 

4. Are you able to make necessary arrangements to get groceries and other essentials during your quarantine? You can visit this site for information about where to order your groceries online. 

5.Do you have a non-medical face mask or face covering to wear when travelling? Airport officials will  provide you with a face mask to travel to your isolation location if you do not have one.

6. Do you have enough money and necessities (including medication) for your 14 day quarantine period?

 

Monitoring your health is a quarantine requirement

 

While you are in isolation you must monitor your health for the following COVID-19 symptoms:

 

If you begin to show symptoms of COVID-19, you must:

Immediately call the public health authority in the province where you are isolating Describe your symptoms and travel history, and Follow their instructions.

This is an important quarantine requirement.

 

Provincial and Territorial Public Health Authorities

 

British Columbia Call 811

Alberta Call 811

Saskatchewan Call 811

Manitoba  Call 1-888-315-9257

Ontario  Call 1-866-797-0000

Quebec  Call 1-877-644-4545

New Brunswick  Call 811

Nova Scotia Call 811

Prince Edward Island Call 811

Newfoundland and Labrador  Call 811 or 1-888-709-2929

Nunavut Call 1-867-975-5772

Northwest Territories Call 811

Yukon Call 811

 

So while this isolation period may be challenging, you can prepare before you arrive in Canada. When you know what to include in a quarantine plan this will help to protect you and others from COVID-19. And a well thought out plan will help you to comply with legal requirements and avoid any penalty.