COVID-19 Designated Quarantine Facilities: Staying at the facility

On this page

Staying at a designated quarantine facility

Travellers arriving in Canada who are symptomatic and do not have a suitable place to quarantine may be referred to a designated quarantine facility, upon the direction of a quarantine officer. Unvaccinated travellers, even if asymptomatic, who do not have a suitable quarantine plan may also be directed to a designated quarantine facility, upon the direction of a quarantine officer.

Designated quarantine facilities meet public health guidelines for the purposes of accommodating travellers who may be COVID-19 positive, symptomatic, or do not have a suitable place to quarantine.

If you must stay in one of these facilities, you will be provided:

• an information package that articulates the details of the quarantine requirement
• transportation to the facility
• access to 24-hour support and regular health assessments
• lodging and 3 meals per day
• Wi-Fi access and phones for outbound calls
• regular outdoor health breaks
• security

If you require assistance during your stay, you can call the hotel’s front desk, call the telephone assistance provided in your information package, or speak with the Quarantine Officer during your health assessment.

You’ll be required to stay in a designated quarantine facility until you receive the permission to leave from a Quarantine or Screening Officer.

Responsibilities during your stay

During your stay, you're responsible for:

• adhering to the rules and regulations made under the Quarantine Act
• following the instructions provided by the screening or quarantine officer

You must:

• monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and report daily through ArriveCAN
• follow the code of conduct in your information package
• remain in your assigned room unless escorted by a facility staff member
• always wear a mask any time you:
  • open your door to receive meals
  • speak face-to-face with hotel personnel
  • are escorted outside of your room

If you start having COVID-19 symptoms:

• remain in your room
• call the telephone number provided in your information package
• wait for a Public Health Agency of Canada official to call you to get additional details regarding your condition

You must not:

• leave your room unless it's:
  • for a medical emergency
  • for an essential medical service or treatment
  • pre-authorized by a government official
• have any visitors
• use shared spaces in the facility
• receive deliveries unless it is for an essential reason

Meals and activities

Getting your test results

While at the quarantine facility and unless exempt, you will have to use the test kits provided at the airport or land border on the first day of arrival (if not already done at the airport).

Test results are generally available between 24-72 hours. If you don’t receive the results in this timeframe, contact your test provider.

If the result is negative

• You are required to remain in your room until you receive permission and a specific time to leave from a member of the operations team at the facility.
• A government representative will call you to confirm that you have a suitable place to quarantine.
• When it’s your specific time to leave, security personnel or another staff member will come to your room and escort you from the facility.
• If your quarantine plan is approved by a government representative, you can complete the remainder of your 14 day quarantine at your approved location.
• If your quarantine plan is not approved, you’ll need to stay at the facility for the full 14 day quarantine period or until you find another plan.
• If you are an unvaccinated traveler, you will be required to perform a Day- 8 self-swab test. Instructions will be provided.

If the result is positive

• You are required to remain in your room until you receive permission and a specific time to leave from a member of the operations team at the facility.
• A government representative will call you to confirm that you have a suitable place to isolate.
• When it’s your specific time to leave, security personnel or another staff member will come to your room and escort you from the facility.
• If your isolation plan is approved by a government representative, you can complete the remaining 10 day isolation period (beginning on the date you completed the COVID test, if the date is validated by the test provider OR the date of the test result)) at your approved location.
• If your isolation plan is not approved, you’ll need to stay at the facility for full 10 day isolation period or until you find another plan.
• You will not need to complete a self-swab kit on Day 8.

If your quarantine plan is not suitable

If you are an unvaccinated traveller and did not have a suitable plan to quarantine and your arrival test was negative, you will be asked to remain in the facility to complete your 14 days quarantine or until you find an approved suitable place to complete your quarantine. Only the Quarantine Officer can approve the new quarantine plan. The quarantine period starts on your first day of arrival.

If your arrival test was positive, you must isolate yourself from others immediately for a period of 10 days beginning on the date you completed the COVID test, if the date is validated by the test provider OR the date of the test result (whichever is earlier)Only the Quarantine Officer can approve the new isolation plan. The isolation period starts on the day you were tested.

Penalties, fines and reporting someone

Consequences for failure to comply with the Emergency Order

Failure to comply with this order is an offence under the Quarantine Act and could lead to fines, imprisonment or both.

Penalties, fines and imprisonment

Violating any instructions provided to you when you entered Canada is an offence under the Quarantine Act and could lead to up to:

• 6 months in prison and/or
• $750,000 in fines

If you break your mandatory quarantine or isolation requirements and you cause the death or serious bodily harm to another person, you could face:

• a fine of up to $1,000,000 or
• imprisonment of up to 3 years or
• both

The Contraventions Act provides police (including RCMP, provincial and local police) the authority to enforce the Quarantine Act. Tickets with fines of up to $5,000 may be issued for non-compliance.

If you receive a fine, you must still comply fully with the mandatory testing and quarantine requirements outlined in the Quarantine, Isolation and Other Obligations Order. Additionally, if you receive a fine, you’re considered at high-risk of non-compliance, and flagged as a high priority for follow up by local law enforcement.