The government has announced that effective February 15, anyone entering Canada through a land border crossing will be required to show a negative COVID PCR test result, completed within the prior 72 hours. This measure was already in place for air travel.
These measures are in addition to, and not in substitution for, any other COVID-related travel restrictions/allowances, for instance, disallowing non-essential travel, but permitting various types of travel for work. These measures also do not alter the need for 14-day quarantine (unless deemed to be in an essential service) for those entering Canada.
All people entering Canada must show the test – even Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Though citizens and permanent residents cannot be denied entry, non-compliance could lead to fines.
We are still awaiting details on the other recently-announced measure indicating that those arriving by air would be subject to a 3-day stay in a government mandated hotel (at the traveler’s cost).
Of course, further details on all such matters will be provided as they become available.
The information in this article is for general purposes only, and not intended as legal advice for any particular situation.