Patients receiving treatment abroad exempt from testing, quarantine rules

Patients who need medical treatment in another country will not have to follownew COVID-19 testing and quarantine rules required for those entering Canada.

Official regulations posted on the federal government website confirm that peoplereceiving"essential medical services" in a foreign country will not have to undergotests and mandatory quarantines if they have a written statement from a licensed health care practitioner in Canada and froma practitioner in the country where they are receiving the treatment affirming thatthe treatment is essential.

Proof of anegative polymerase chain reaction test also known as a PCR test is nowrequired for non-essential travellers crossing into Canada via theland border.

The test resultmust be obtained within 72 hours of arriving at the borderbut essential workers such as truckers, emergency service providers and those in cross-border communities are exempt.

After passing through the land border, travellers have to take another test upon arrival and a third testnear the end of their 14-day quarantine periods.

That additional layer of testing comes into effect on Feb. 22 the same day air passengers landing in Canada will be subjected to a new rule requiring them toquarantine in a hotelat their own expense for up to 72 hours while they wait for PCR test results.

The cost of those hotelstays is estimated at about$2,000, but itdepends on where the traveller is isolating. Passengers will need to book a hotel in the city in which they first arrive: Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto or Montreal.

Quarantine presents financial burden

Vancouver resident Kimberly Muise, whotravels to Los Angeles every monthto take part in an immunotherapy clinical trial to treat Stage 4 cervical cancer, told CBC Chief Political Correspondent Rosemary Barton on Sundaythat a mandatory quarantineat the traveller's expense would be a financial burden.

Reacting to confirmation of the exemptionsin a government order-in-council (OIC), Muise said Tuesday she's gladthe government listened to Canadians' concerns.

"This will make a huge difference in my life and the life of my family as I continue my battle with cancer," she said in an email to CBC.

"I know that the inclusion of essential medical services and treatment in this OIC will also improve the lives of so many Canadians who require medical treatment outside of Canada and were similarly facing almost unbearable stress in dealing with their essential travel during the pandemic."

In an interviewSunday, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair had told Barton that there will be some leeway in determining what constitutes essential traveland that the government will deal appropriatelywith "compelling and compassionate cases," such as people receiving medical treatment abroad.

• Cancer patients travelling to U.S. for treatment want exemption from quarantine rules

Blair said Muise's casehad been brought to his attention alreadyby her local member of Parliament andhe was talking to the Public Health Agency of Canadaand British Columbia's health authority about her situation.

"We want to make sure that that woman can receive her treatment and put in measures that can protect her, protect her family and protect her community, but also deal with the exceptional circumstances that that woman is experiencing in an appropriate way," he said.