New hotel quarantine rules for air travellers are now in effect. Here’s what you need to know

Beginning Monday, most air passengers entering Canada must comply with new travel measures, including a pricey hotel quarantine.

The new regulations are off to a bumpy start, with complaints from some travellers that they can’t get through on the government phone line to book their hotel, or they can’t figure out if they’re exempt from the rules.

Here’s the latest on what we know, including the cost of the hotel quarantine.

How do I book a room?

Most air passengers will now have to take a COVID-19 test after landing in Canada and spend up to three days of their 14-day quarantine period in a designated hotel to await their test results.

Passengers must pre-book their hotel stay before arriving in Canada.

On Friday, the federal government posted online a list of approved quarantine hotels. Eighteen are currently listed.

There is no option to book online, so travellers must call a dedicated phone line to reserve a room.

Soon after the phone line was launched, social media lit up with complaints from travellers that, after long waits on hold, their calls kept getting disconnected.

At a news conference on Friday, the government said it was addressing the phone problem.

However, CBC News heard from several travellers over the weekend who said they still couldn’t get through on the phone to book a room.

“The hold music that’s playing for, like, three, three and a half hours, suddenly it stops and the call gets dropped,” Vineeth Nair said on Sunday, after trying — without success — since Friday to book his room.

Nair, a permanent Canadian resident living in New York, is set to fly to Toronto on Thursday due to a work transfer. But he said he’s worried he won’t be able to reserve his hotel in time.

“It’s a state of confusion right now. First of all, I’m moving countries, so it’s not making it easy for me.”

Once they get through on the phone line, passengers must reserve a room for three nights — even though they only have to stay for as long as it takes to get their test results.

Travellers who test negative can leave immediately and finish the rest of their 14-day quarantine at home. Those who need to take a connecting domestic flight can book it at this point and fly home.

People who test positive will be required to finish their quarantine at a designated government facility.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) said it’s up to the discretion of the hotel whether it will give a rebate to people allowed to check out early.

“Travellers should be prepared to pay for a three-night stay,” PHAC spokesperson Tammy Jarbeau said in an email. 

Hotel stay could be much cheaper than $2,000

When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the new hotel quarantine rules on Jan. 29, he said the cost of the three-night hotel stay is “expected to be more than $2,000.”

But it turns out the total, which includes meals and transportation, may be much less than that — depending on where you stay, as prices vary widely.

The Acclaim hotel in Calgary charges $611, including taxes, for the three nights, an employee said.

That’s a significant price difference from the Westin Wall Centre Vancouver Airport hotel, which, according to an employee, charges $1,827, including taxes.

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A traveller flying to Toronto, who did not want her name published, showed CBC News her quarantine hotel booking confirmation at the Four Points by Sheraton. It totalled $1089.41 including taxes.

At a news conference on Friday, Health Minister Patty Hajdu said the final price tag is up to the individual hotel.

“The hotels are doing the billing directly, and different hotels will have different rates.”

PHAC said that, at this time, the government won’t charge travellers for their post-arrival COVID-19 test.

Will I be exempt?

CBC News has received dozens of inquiries from people who travelled abroad for discretionary reasons — such as for school or work — and want to know if they’re exempt from the hotel quarantine requirement when returning home.

Alexis Pearman of Mississauga, Ont., is set to fly home on March 10 after completing a masters in physiotherapy at Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland.

Pearman said she has contacted numerous government departments but has yet to confirm whether she and her fellow-Canadian classmates will be exempt from the hotel quarantine.

“As the days go on, it kind of becomes more disheartening and more frustrating, not having an answer and then … trying to have to figure out how we’re going to pay for this quarantine,” she said.

When CBC News asked PHAC for specific details about exemptions, it sent a link to a new government information site.

According to the site, people already exempt from the 14-day quarantine — such as essential workers, cross-border workers and people receiving medical treatment — are also exempt from the hotel quarantine.

Unaccompanied minors are also exempt, as are people with compassionate cases, such as those attending a funeral, if they get government pre-approval.

But in general, travellers who are required to quarantine — including students returning home from abroad — will have to book a room in a quarantine hotel.

“Our government has been extremely clear that very few exemptions will be consented to, and they’re really related to essential travellers,” Hajdu said on Friday.

People who have questions about travel exemptions can call the government’s COVID-19 information line at 1-833-784-4397. CBC News called the number on Sunday afternoon, and an automated voice said that “due to unforeseen circumstances, wait times are longer than usual.”