Canada extends travel restrictions till 30 September

Canada is once again extending emergency orders that place restrictions on international travel and make mandatory 14-day quarantines for anyone entering the country during the novel coronavirus pandemic. The orders will be extended for at least another month, the government said.

"Our government is extending the existing restrictions on international travel to Canada by one month — until 30 September 2020 — to limit the introduction and spread of COVID-19 in our communities," said public safety minister Bill Blair. "Canadian citizens and permanent residents returning to Canada will continue to be subject to strict quarantine measures."

The ongoing restrictions prohibit all non-essential or discretionary travel to Canada from countries other than the United States. This includes any leisure travel, such as vacation and entertainment travel, for non-Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Canadians who choose to travel abroad, including to the US, will be required to self-isolate upon their return. Essential workers, including health-care professionals, airline crews and commercial truckers will continue to be exempt from quarantine measures.

Some immediate family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents will also be allowed to enter Canada by air if exempt. The announcement also does not affect the Canada-US land border, which remains closed to all non-essential travel until 21 September. Despite ongoing travel restrictions, the number of international travellers arriving in Canada by air has increased significantly since the first months of the pandemic.

The most recent statistics, provided by the Canada Border Services Agency, show that roughly 60,000 international passengers arrived in Canada each week during August. This includes travellers on flights from the US.