Almost 60,000 suspected of breaching quarantine

Over $2.9M in fines levied on travellers who refused to stay at pandemic hotels

Canadians may have tossed their reputation for politeness and civil behaviour during COVID-19.

A story in Blacklock's Reporter states the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) reported some 58,000 Canadian international travellers are suspected of breaking quarantine and leaving their homes.

It is not known how many were charged by the RCMP.

In a report to the Commons government operations committee, the agency wrote that home checks during the quarantine focused on medium-risk travellers.

Those viewed as higher risk were referred to the provinces of jurisdiction for compliance verification.

The Quarantine Act mandates returning travellers must self-isolate at home for two weeks or face penalties such as six months in jail or fines of up to $750,000.

Over a five-month period in 2021, home checks were conducted on 348,647 people.

Subsequently, 57,578 people were referred to the RCMP for possible non-compliance — if someone meant to be home did not answer the phone or the door.

Obviously, some of those people may have been home but unable to respond to a knock on the door or a phone call, so that number will inevitably be lower.

Those in quarantine are warned not to leave their property before the quarantine period is up except for medical emergencies.

Those in quarantine are forbidden from entertaining visitors or guests, and may not visit family or anyone else.

They are also instructed to isolate physically from others in the same dwelling if they didn't travel with that person.

Those living in apartments are banned from public gathering places such as lobbies and only able to go outside to private yards or balconies.

Health Minister Patricia Hajdu told the Commons, “Anyone who is returning to Canada must take a test upon arrival and quarantine until the receipt of a negative test, and then go to complete their quarantine in their own home. “Quarantine has been a very important process.”

More than $2.9 million in fines were levied on air travellers who refused to stay at pandemic hotels.

An order requiring passengers to pay for three nights stay will be repealed Aug. 9.

Alarmingly, people came up with forged COVID tests and some failed to submit tests on arrival.

A total of 28,305 air passengers and drivers were referred to COVID hotels for “not having suitable accommodation to quarantine,” according to a June 22 briefing note Impact of Border Measures And Statistics drafted by the Department of Public Safety.

Anyone who is returning to Canada must take a test upon arrival and quarantine until the receipt of a negative test.