Maple News reports that Canada’s federal advisory panel on COVID-19 is calling for an end to the mandatory hotel quarantine for air travelers. The panel, comprised of scientific and public health experts, argues that the policy—introduced in February 2021—is costly, inconsistently aligned with the actual incubation period of the virus, and no longer proportionate as vaccination rates rise and more is known about the virus.
Under the current rules, all air travelers entering Canada are required to present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to travel. Upon arrival, they must take another test and quarantine in a government-designated hotel for three days while awaiting the results. If negative, travelers complete the remainder of the mandatory 14-day quarantine at their own chosen location. A final COVID-19 test is also required on the 10th day of isolation.
The federal advisory panel suggests that fully vaccinated travelers should be exempt from the hotel quarantine and not required to undergo testing on the tenth day. However, a test upon arrival would still be necessary, and anyone testing positive would be required to isolate.
The recommendations are part of broader guidance offered to the Canadian government on adjusting border and travel measures as vaccination rates increase globally. While the panel urges gradual policy changes, they emphasize that their approach is grounded in scientific evidence and aligned with the global understanding of vaccine efficacy and transmission dynamics.
Importantly, the panel has proposed adapting guidelines based on five distinct categories of travelers: those unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or fully vaccinated and not exempt from existing travel rules; those previously infected with COVID-19; and those exempt from travel restrictions altogether. Tailored quarantine and testing protocols would apply to each group.
Despite the proposed elimination of the hotel stay requirement, the quarantine period itself would remain in place for many travelers depending on their vaccination or infection status. The panel recommends the federal government consider risk-based, science-informed revisions to avoid unnecessary hardship and better allocate public health resources.
As Canada considers easing border measures, these expert recommendations arrive at a critical moment when governments worldwide are reassessing pandemic-era travel restrictions in light of widespread vaccination and updated scientific knowledge.