The federal government is finally cracking down on those travelling to, or from, Canada by air or land to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and its variants.

Non-essential travellers as of February 22 crossing the border by land will be required to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival, as well as toward the end of their 14-day quarantine, federal officials say.

Passengers arriving by air are already required to take a negative COVID-19 test three days before they travel to Canada, according to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). They are now required to book a hotel room on your own dime for three days in Canada to await the result of their COVID-19 test on return.

Those travelling from Canada have to provide a negative COVID-19 test to leave the country.

The government have provided a list of 11 accredited ‘isolation’ hotels in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary or Montreal. Those are the only cities in which international passengers can land at this time.

Starting on February 22 all travellers returning from non-essential international trips, like holidays or visiting family, will have to isolate in one of the approved hotels, at their own expense for 72 hours as they await their results. They can only leave if their results are negative.

The four Toronto hotels where passengers can isolate are the Alt Hotel Pearson Airport, Four Points by Sheraton and Element Toronto Airport, Holiday Inn Toronto International Airport and the Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Toronto International Airport.

The rooms can range up to $400 nightly and those there ‘cannot just pick up and leave.’ All costs are to be picked up by the traveller.

The government will operate 16 testing sites at ports of entries across Canada and provide test kits and other needs.

The CBSA said on their website that toward the end of a person’s quarantine, they will be required to take another COVID-19 test. Passengers are required to stay at their place of quarantine until they receive a negative test result.

“If you receive a positive test result, you will be required to isolate for an additional 14-day period that begins on the day the test was taken,” health officials said.

The government also extended the Canada-U.S. border closure for non-essential travel until March 21.

Health Minister Patty Hajdu said the new travel measures will help prevent the importation of additional COVID-19 cases and improve health officials’ understanding of the virus.

“The quarantine is in place for a very important purpose. It allows for a person to be tested for COVID and for Canada to receive the results of that test prior to any onward travels,” said Hajdu.

All visitors and returning residents must quarantine for 14 days after driving across the border by land.

Officials said non-essential travellers have to check in with border officials and an app, called ArriveCAN, can be downloaded to help report test results, quarantine plans for assessments, where you will be staying and provide other information.

A COVID-19 test is not required to fly within Canada, and officials said, proof of having a vaccine does not replace a valid test result. If in doubt check the Government of Canada website at Canada.ca