Mandatory COVID-19 tests at YYC and hotel quarantine to cost travellers over $2k

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that mandatory COVID-19 testing would be implemented at airports, including Calgary International Airport.

Starting in February, there will be a second mandatory COVID-19 test for arriving international passengers.

As they await the result, they will be required to wait in quarantine for three days at a supervised hotel. The stay will cost $2,000 per person – which includes the cost of private tests and the hotel stay.

If they receive a negative test result, they can go home to quarantine with enhanced supervision. But if the test is positive, they will be taken to a government facility.

Trudeau said these “decisions are not made lightly” and are “informed, effective decisions that take in all factors and their consequences.”

“My priority is to protect Canadians,” said the prime minister.

• See also:
  • Major Canadian airlines cancelling air service to all Caribbean destinations and Mexico
  • Canada to further discourage non-essential travel with new measures
  • Canadians must have negative COVID-19 test to fly into US starting today

In addition, beginning next week, all international flights will only be allowed to land at four airports; Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal.

As well, major Canadian airlines are cancelling their air service to sun destinations including the Caribbean and Mexico starting this Sunday until April 30.

The airlines include Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing, and Air Transat.

On January 19, Edmonton International Airport announced that it would be offering onsite COVID-19 testing for international travellers.

However, with these new restrictions, flights arriving from outside of Canada will not be permitted to land at EIA.

As of January 25, Alberta has confirmed 20 cases of the coronavirus variant first detected in the UK (B.1.1.7), and five cases of the South African variant (B.1.351).

To date, the province has seen 122,821 COVID-19 cases and 1,606 virus-related deaths.

Daily Hive has contacted Calgary Airport Authority and will update this story accordingly.