Guidelines for quarantine
If you are arriving from abroad, you will need to follow some important public health guidelines. This guide will help you prepare.
International students: Canada continues to maintain strict COVID-19 health and safety guidelines about who can enter the country. Before you make travel plans, consult the FAQ and review the travel and quarantine checklist.
Everyone, whether Canadian citizen, permanent resident or international student, is required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Canada from abroad. This applies to both land and air travel.
TRAVEL BY AIR
As of February 22, 2021, all travellers arriving to Canada by air will have to reserve a room in a Government of Canada-approved hotel for three nights and take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival, all at their own expense. If they test positive, they will have to complete their quarantine at a government-designated facility. If they test negative, they will be able to complete the remainder of their 14-day quarantine at another location, in keeping with their quarantine plan. They will also be required to take another COVID-19 molecular test toward the end of their 14-day quarantine.
TRAVEL BY LAND
As of February 15, 2021, all travellers, with some exceptions, arriving to Canada by land will be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test result taken in the United States within 72 hours of pre-arrival, OR a proof of a positive test result within 14 and 90 days prior to arrival. In addition, as of February 22, 2021, travellers entering Canada at the land border will be required to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival as well as toward the end of their 14-day quarantine.
Read more about these new measures
Consult additional testing information
If you do not abide by the Quarantine Act, you could also face fines of up to $1 million and three years’ imprisonment. For more information, visit: Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada and Government of Canada travel and quarantine info.
Being in quarantine means you must self-isolate in one location for the 14-day duration. During this period, you must:
- Not have visitors (friends, family, maintenance workers or utility workers for things like internet or phone set-up)
- Arrange to have your groceries or any medications you need delivered to you.
- Stay in a private area, such as a yard or balcony, if you go outside for fresh air. Neighbourhood walks are not permitted in quarantine.
- Monitor your health for symptoms of COVID-19.
For more information: Government of Canada
Bring at least 14 days’ worth of any medication you need, and remember to pack all medication and important documents with you in your carry-on bag. If your bags are delayed, you will not be able to return to the airport to pick them up until after you have completed your quarantine. You should also have a face-covering to wear with you throughout your transit.
Public health officials suggest the following supplies:
- Non-medical mask or face covering (i.e., made with at least two layers of tightly woven fabric, constructed to completely cover the nose and mouth without gaping, and secured to the head by ties or ear loops)
- Disposable paper towels
- Thermometer
- Running water
- Hand soap
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol
- Dish soap
- Regular laundry soap
- Regular household cleaning products
- Hard-surface disinfectant that has a Drug Identification Number (DIN), or if not available, concentrated (5%) liquid bleach and a separate container for dilution
- Appropriate cleaning products for high-touch electronics
Parents (foreign nationals/US citizens) who wish to accompany their student(s) to campus will not be able to enter Canada from the United States unless the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) deems your trip to be essential.
You may contact the CBSA to determine whether your trip would qualify as essential. Bear in mind that anyone entering Canada will have to remain in Canada for the 14-day isolation that the Federal Government has outlined in the requirements for Mandatory Quarantine for Travellers to Canada. Short visits are not permitted.
If you are cleared to circulate freely upon arrival to Canada (see new rules): If you have your own accommodations ready to move into, you may quarantine there. For those who haven’t found housing in Montreal ahead of their arrival, Concordia is providing options with Hotel Management International (HMI) to offer you “quarantine accommodation” at discounted rates. Fill out the accommodation request form to access and reserve a Montreal-based hotel room.
Many grocery stores in Montreal offer online ordering and contact-free delivery, including Supermarche P.A., Supermarche Adonis, Metro, and IGA. You will need a credit card to pay for groceries, so be sure to have one when you arrive. You will not be able to open a bank account in Canada until after your quarantine period is over.
COVID-19 tests are currently administered in public test centers at no cost. Blue Cross health insurance also covers diagnostic tests - please refer the Health Insurance Booklet [PDF] for further details.
To qualify, you need to be a student enrolled in winter term courses who does not have a computer. You can also request the loan of a webcam.
Please fill out this web form, or call 514 848-2424, ext. 7613.
Please note: because of the limited number of devices available, you may be asked to briefly explain the nature of the work you need to accomplish. We also request that you strictly adhere to borrowing deadlines since other students, faculty and staff members may be negatively impacted by return delays.
Important: this service is reserved for students, faculty and staff who do not have a personal device and who are unable to borrow one by another means. Please note that this request does not guarantee availability of equipment as stock is limited. The University is exploring all possible options to distribute equipment safely and efficiently within the present restrictions of the COVID-19 situation.
If you no longer require loaned equipment, please contact the Service Desk at help@concordia.ca with the subject line “Equipment Return.” A Service Desk agent will be in touch to coordinate the equipment drop-off.
