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Leaving Canada for business? You have to wear a mask for 14 days after coming home

Little-known rules for people returning or coming to Canada could have implications for employers with staff travelling for business.

While restrictions are easing, such as the rule to show a negative COVID test, there are still rules that people must follow when returning to Canada — and those rules aren’t well known among the public, according to media reports.

According to the federal government, the following rules apply for returning travellers and visitors.

After your arrival

For 14 days following entry into Canada, you and any children aged 5 years and older who travelled with you must:

• properly wear a well-constructed and well-fitting mask when in public spaces, both indoors and outdoors
• maintain a list of all close contacts and locations you visit
• keep copies of your proof of vaccination

Some federal rules after entering Canada are different from the provincial or territorial rules. In this case, you must follow the stricter rules.

Monitor for symptoms for 14 days after your arrival.

If a fully vaccinated traveller or unvaccinated child under 12 years of age tests positive:

• they must isolate for 10 days
• report your test results and/or symptoms to PHAC by calling 1-833-641-0343

If a parent, step-parent, guardian, or tutor a child has travelled with experiences symptoms or tests positive:

• unvaccinated children under 12 years of age must quarantine for 14 days and monitor for symptoms
• report your test results and/or symptoms to PHAC by calling 1-833-641-0343

If a person you travelled with develops symptoms or tests positive, you must begin a 14-day quarantine period starting from your last exposure to the person.

You must provide proof of your test results, if asked, to any federal, provincial, territorial or municipal government official or peace officer.

Children or dependents

You and any children who travelled with you must properly wear a well-constructed and well-fitting mask when in public spaces for the first 14 days after your entry. This includes schools and daycares.

Children under 5: Children under 5 are exempt from vaccination requirements. They are also exempt from pre-entry testing, arrival testing and quarantine, without any limitations on their activities.

These exemptions apply only to the child, not to the parents, guardians or family members travelling together. Children who are 5 on the day of their travel are not exempt from testing requirements.

Youth aged 12 to 17: Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated youth 12 to 17 years of age must complete the 14-day quarantine, and all testing requirements for pre-entry, arrival and Day-8 tests, even when they are accompanied by travellers who qualify as a fully vaccinated traveller.

Unvaccinated adult dependents: Dependents, 18 years of age or over who are unvaccinated because of mental or physical limitationmay enter Canada but must follow all testing and quarantine requirements, even when their accompanying parent or guardian qualifies as a fully vaccinated traveller.

For more information see https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada