The federal government is warning against all international travel and is limiting inbound flights as part of a series of measures to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau detailed the new measures during a news conference Friday. Trudeau is in self-isolation due to the confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis for his wife, Sophie.
Trudeau said that, aside from the sweeping travel advisory, the government is also taking steps to prevent infections.
“We are looking to reduce the number of airports that will accept travellers from overseas in order to be able give the proper resources on all arrivals to ensure we’re doing everything we can to keep Canadians and Canada safe,” he said.
We’re also, obviously, looking at countries of origin and further measures we can take. We will make those decisions based on the best science, the best recommendations of our health officials.”
Group of federal ministers and health officials also held a news conference yesterday.
They announced a series of other new measures to limit the spread of COVID-19:
- International flights will only be permitted to land at a smaller number of airports. Those locations have not yet been announced.
- Boats and cruise ships carrying more than 500 people will be banned from docking at Canadian ports until July.
- All travellers arriving in Canada from international points are being asked to self-isolate for 14 days as a precaution. People arriving from Hubei, China, Iran and Italy already have been asked to self-isolate.
The airports that will be permitted to take inbound flights have not been identified, and Transport Minister Marc Garneau said discussions on that measure are underway.
“We’re working out the specific airports at this time, but we believe that this is a precaution that we should take so that we concentrate overseas international passengers coming into Canada to a smaller number of airports,” he said.