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Trudeau says travellers who refuse to self-isolate are ‘dangerous’

Mar 26, 2020 | 12:28 PM

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canadians ignoring orders to stay isolated after returning from trips outside the country are endangering the lives of others.

Canada today began enforcing the Quarantine Act order for international arrivals to Canada to stay away from others for at least 14 days.

Trudeau says most Canadians have seemed to be heeding the advice to self-isolate over the last couple of weeks but the number who haven’t forced the government to take the next step of threatening fines and jail time.

Canada’s chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam says national and local public health officers will enforce the order with random checks including phone calls to ensure people ordered to stay at home are obeying.

Canadians returning who have symptoms of COVID-19 won’t be allowed to go home unless they are able to do so alone in their own vehicles.

The rest will either be taken to hospital if warranted or taken to a federal shelter where their quarantines will be monitored directly.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 26, 2020.

The Canadian Press