“I get into Toronto [on December 6] And I go through customs, and it’s chaos. Absolute chaos, “said Walker.” Everyone is face to face, there are 3,000 people in customs where you have those kiosks to put your passport, passing us everywhere, it was just a mob. It took us an hour and a half, so there we are with everyone, not segregated, going through customs ”.
After customs, he had to undergo further COVID-19 testing as Canada has implemented new travel measures for Canadians and permanent residents returning from South Africa, among several other countries. Here, he waited with other passengers, some of whom were also randomly selected to join the line.
A spokesperson for the Greater Toronto Airports Authority told Narcity that Pearson Airport passengers are expected to socially distance themselves from one another “whenever they can” and airport staff will enforce this “when appropriate.” However, that is not always possible.
“The Public Health Agency of Canada, which is leading Canada’s public health response to COVID-19, recognizes that a physical distance of 2 meters may not always be possible at Canadian airports. In these cases, PHAC recommends using a layered approach with multiple protective measures. ” Beverly MacDonald, a spokeswoman for the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, told Narcity via email.
MacDonald mentioned that Pearson Airport has been informing travelers about possible delays and that, at this time, the wait during “very high rush hours” is two to three hours for arrivals, “which is what we have been advising. . our international passengers arriving to wait. “
Pearson said in an email on December 5 that not all international travelers were tested “because the government needs more time to install the infrastructure.”
Courtesy of Cynthia Walker
What it’s like to quarantine
Walker said she was finally taken to a quarantine hotel near Pearson Airport just after 11 p.m. (hours after her 4 p.m. landing time).
“What was amazing was that it seemed like COVID security started the moment they decided we were going to the hotel. It didn’t start with customs, it didn’t start with COVID testing, it started right then,” Walker said. describing the whole experience as straight out of a “science fiction movie”.
“Everybody is wearing gas masks and hazmat suits,” shared Walker, remembering what it was like to walk into the hotel where security personnel escorted them to their room.
Although you did get a detailed code of conduct for your stay at the hotel (which included a breakdown of all the fines you could face for violating the rules), you didn’t get many responses about when you could leave.
“We didn’t know when we were going to get our COVID results. We didn’t know when we were going to get out,” Walker said.
After Walker said she and her partner “kicked and screamed” and tested negative, she was able to leave the hotel three days after checking in, but described the time she spent there as “absolutely insane.”
The initial trip from South Africa
All of this took place after an arduous journey from South Africa, which Walker said was initially in the “green zone” for COVID-19 when it arrived. According to the federal government, the “green zone” countries are those for which the government advises to practice the usual health measures when traveling, such as routine vaccinations.
“So I felt comfortable going,” Walker said. “I did the COVID test before, I paid $ 200 for that 24 hour COVID test, and we had no problem going there.”
Trying to go home to Rockwood, Ontario, was another story.
Originally, his return trip was supposed to take off from Cape Town on the 30th, but, just a few days earlier, on November 26, the World Health Organization regarded Omicron as a variant of concern.
“They gave it only 12 hours and they closed it from a green zone to a red zone, so that meant I couldn’t catch my flight on the 30th. I had to rebook the tickets,” Walker said. He rescheduled his flight to depart on December 2.
“I tried to call the embassy but no [were] there is no answer. I tried to call KLM but it went off the hook, “Walker said.
“So since I couldn’t get through to anyone, I took the flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg.”
Walker also said that during her trip, she was banned from setting foot on her connecting flight to Amsterdam because she was coming from South Africa and there were restrictions (“that was the first time I felt like my Canadian passport wasn’t working for me”), she was trapped. in Johannesburg for a few days before catching a flight to Paris, and had to cross Charles de Gaulle Airport for (another) COVID-19 test before taking off for Pearson Airport. *
Before you start, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can stay informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.
Health Canada has a robust website with the latest information on COVID-19 vaccines and can answer any questions you may have.
*This article has been updated.
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