CANADA, March 10, 2020–There are several active travel health notices for COVID-19. Each country or area may have different levels of risk. These risk levels may change as the COVID-19 event evolves internationally.

Before you leave, check the following destinations that have travel health notices for COVID-19:

Health risks

All travellers should be aware that there are health risks when you travel. It is important to check your destination before you leave to know the risks and to be prepared.

While you are away, and when you return, it is important to monitor your health. If you become sick while travelling, call ahead to a health professional to explain your symptoms. If you become sick upon your return, call your local Public Health Authority for further instructions.

People can contract coronaviruses after coming into contact with an infected person. Current evidence suggests person-to-person spread is efficient when there is close contact.

There is no vaccine or treatment to prevent coronaviruses. Most people with common coronavirus illness will recover on their own.

You can reduce your risk by taking precautions when travelling to areas where there is a risk of coronaviruses.

If you are concerned that you have symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, cough or difficulty breathing, contact your local public health authority for further instructions.

If you have travelled outside Canada, you can reduce the risk of spreading infection by following prevention measures when returning to Canada.

Safety and security abroad

Travellers should expect increased health screening measures at points of entry for international destinations, including airports. Local authorities may impose control measures suddenly, including movement restrictions such as quarantines.

Some governments have implemented special entry and exit restrictions for their territory. Before travelling, verify with the foreign diplomatic mission of your destination to see if its authorities have implemented any specific restrictions related to this situation. These include entry requirements, border closures and flight suspensions.

To ensure you are aware of the latest developments in this evolving situation, we recommend:

• monitoring the news
• reading all travel advice and advisories for your destination

If you are in an affected destination, we recommend:

• following the instructions of local authorities
• signing up to our Registration of Canadians Abroad service to receive important updates

Avoid all cruise ship travel

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is recommending that Canadians avoid all cruise ship travel due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

Cruise passengers include travellers from around the world who may be arriving from areas with a known or unknown spread of COVID-19. The virus can spread quickly onboard cruises due to the close contact between passengers. Older people and people with a weakened immune system or underlying medical condition are at a higher risk of developing severe disease.

Recent cruise ship outbreaks of COVID-19 indicate that many individuals onboard can become infected. While most affected passengers may experience mild symptoms, there have been a significant number of cases requiring hospitalization and critical care, and some deaths have been reported.

As the situation evolves, many countries are implementing policies and restrictions in order to contain the outbreak. These restrictions may impact a cruise traveller’s itinerary, ability to disembark, and access to health care.

If an outbreak of COVID-19 occurs on your cruise ship:

• you could be subject to quarantine procedures, on-board ship or in a foreign country
• the range of consular services available to those on cruise ships, in particular in situations of quarantine, may be significantly restricted by local authorities
• upon return to Canada, you will be required to remain in mandatory isolation for 14 days at a location determined by the Chief Public Health Officer as per the terms of any applicable emergency orders

The decision on Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease in Canada Order (Persons Not on Government Flight) is effective from February 19 to April 30, 2020.

Canadians who choose to voyage on a cruise ship should also be aware that they may not be offered the opportunity to return to Canada on a government-organized repatriation flight, or could be responsible for the costs of repatriation travel.

Government of Canada COVID-19 information line: 1-833-784-4397.

–Public Service by the Government of Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/latest-travel-health-advice.html#ath