Canada Closes Borders to Foreign Nationals Except for U.S. Citizens

Montreal (dpa) - Canada is shutting its border to almost all foreign nationals and non-residents with the exception of US citizens to limit the spread of Covid-19 in the country, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday.

There will be some exceptions for immediate family members of Canadian citizens, diplomats, air crews, and other essential personnel, Trudeau said as he addressed the media on the steps of his Ottawa residence.

Trudeau, who is working from home after his wife tested positive for Covid-19, said airlines will be required to complete a basic health assessment of every air traveller based on guidance from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Airlines will be formally mandated to prevent all travellers who present symptoms of Covid-19 to board a plane, Trudeau said.

"This means that anyone who has symptoms will not be able to come to Canada," Trudeau said.

While acknowledging that "this news will spark concern among Canadians travelling abroad," Trudeau sought to reassure them by vowing that Ottawa "will not leave you unsupported."

To help asymptomatic Canadians to return home, the federal government will set up a support programme for Canadians who need to get on a plane, he said.

Canadian travellers will be able to get financial assistance to help them with the costs of returning home or temporarily covering basic needs while they wait to come back to Canada, Trudeau added.

In the meantime, Trudeau called on Canadians travelling abroad to immediately return home while commercial flights are still available.

"Let me be clear: If you are abroad, now is the time to come home," Trudeau said. "If you've just arrived, you must self-isolate for 14 days."

In order to better screen arriving passengers, starting on March 18, only four Canadian airports will be accepting international flights: Toronto Pearson Airport, Montreal-Trudeau Airport, Vancouver International Airport and Calgary International Airport, Trudeau said.

However, "at this time," domestic flights as well as flights coming from the US, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Saint Pierre and Miquelon will not be affected, he added.

"These are exceptional circumstances calling for exceptional measures," Trudeau said, urging Canadians to stay home.

However, the travel restrictions announced by the federal government will not apply to commerce or trade, he said.

"We will continue to ensure the supply of important goods to Canada," Trudeau said.

Government officials were grilled by reporters over Ottawa's reluctance to close the border to US citizens despite the rapidly expanding coronavirus outbreak there.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said the decision to keep the border open to US citizens was made to reflect the integration of the two economies and social ties between the two countries, and to maintain essential supply lines for things like food.

"That border is absolutely vital to the daily lives of the people who live on both sides of that border," Freeland said.

Everyone arriving in Canada from another country is being asked to self-isolate for 14 days, she said. The only exception is for essential workers, including air crews and truck drivers, Freeland said.

Canada's Chief Medical Health Officer Dr Theresa Tam said the new measures are necessary to slow the spread of the virus in Canada.

Tam said there are now more than 175,000 cases around the world, including 407 in Canada. There have been four deaths in Canada.

"All Canadians must act now to interrupt chains of transmission," Tam said, as she warned that the window of opportunity to prevent the worst case scenario was rapidly closing.

Trudeau urged Canadians to stay in touch with each other while they adapt to new social distancing realities.

"Pick up the phone. Write an email. FaceTime," Trudeau said. "So, call your friends. Check in with your family. Think of your community."

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