To prevent the spread of the Epidemic, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced stricter international travel restrictions on Jan. 29, and the new rules have sparked strong reactions from the public.
As the federal government has yet to announce the exact timing and details of the implementation of the new regulations, many travelers who have booked tickets and plan to fly to Canada in the near future are feeling anxious. Canadian resident KhusbooTanna tweeted from Vancouver International Airport, “Does this apply to International Students?” Keai said, “My mom is coming, when will I be informed of details, such as the list of isolated hotels and how to deal with transfers?”
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The three new quarantine rules announced by Trudeau are as follows.
From Jan. 31 to April 30, major Canadian airlines are suspending service to the Caribbean and Mexico; starting Feb. 3, all international passenger, private and charter flights, including those from the United States, will land at Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary and Montreal airports; mandatory virus testing for all incoming passengers, and the federal government plans to start as early as Feb. 4, when incoming passengers From as early as February 4, the federal government plans to quarantine incoming passengers in designated hotels for three days pending test results and at least $2,000 at their own expense.
3 days in quarantine for $2,000? Confused
There are many different opinions about the $2,000-plus quarantine fee. Rita, a netizen, questioned, “Why is it $2,000 for a three-day hotel stay? It should be $500-$600!”
Many international students say they can’t afford the extra cost, especially those who have to stay in university dormitories with strict quarantine and surveillance measures as soon as they get off the plane, which they think is unfair and should be waived for international students. We have already spent a lot of $$$$.”
Palak expressed his displeasure: “Traveling to visit Family is a necessary trip, and you are just trying to make money with this new quarantine rule.” Navej argued, “The Canadian government is just like any other government, an excuse to collect money.”
Some also calculate that quarantine personnel must stay in airport hotels so they don’t come into contact with anyone in the community, and most airport hotel rates start at more than $400 per night plus tax. Add in three meals per person per day, and it could add up to $2,000 for three days.
Michelle Penney tweeted that hotels are charging the highest fees to offset the loss of business.
Netizen Wil Cunningham expressed his understanding, saying, “This money could be used for renovations to protect people from getting infected if there were one or two cases of the variant on one floor of the hotel. Two thousand dollars sounds like a bargain.”
Are the new rules for everyone?
Arti says, “If you leave (Canada) for a family emergency, like if one parent has Covid19 and is in intensive care, and the other has pneumonia and is in hospital, but you have to make arrangements to go back to Toronto.”
Mr. M says that while he won’t be traveling now, does the government have specific rules in place if he must travel because of a family emergency. In particular, there should be an exemption for those who have obtained a negative test certificate before departing.
He also said that no rule should be set in stone, and that measures should change as the epidemic turns. There is a balance to be struck between the measures and the rights we have under the constitution.
Alpha tango (alpha tango) agrees with Mr. M: “That’s exactly what I think. Sometimes, like playing chess, once you make a move you can never go back. That’s actually pretty scary. As Canadians, we should all be very concerned about these measures.”
Transport Canada stressed, “The exemptions will be very limited.”
New rules will hit aviation and tourism hard
Aviation experts say the newly enacted restrictions on flights to the Caribbean and Mexico will likely trigger a bankruptcy of the Canadian airline industry and force some airports and travel agencies to close permanently.
Robert Kokonis, president of aviation industry consultant AirTrav Inc. noted the announcement the same day, “It’s really the most damning blow to the airline and tourism industry, and we’re going to see bankruptcy filings and you may even see some outright failures.”
John Gradek, a lecturer at McGill University and head of its Global Aviation Leadership Program, predicted that Sunwing and Air Transat were most at risk of bankruptcy given their reliance on flights to sunny destinations.
B.C. Premier John Horgan said Jan. 31 that he supports the new measures and will work with the federal government to implement them in the province.
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