The following protocols and conditions apply to participants who required a National Interest Exemption (NIE) from Global Affairs Canada in order to participate in-person to the ICAO High Level Meeting on LTAG
(19 – 22 July 2022) and/or the 41st Session of the Assembly (27 September – 7 October 2022).
Participants who required a National Interest Exemption (NIE) are to adhere to the protocols and associated applications/tools available:
A. Prior to entering Canada
- Participants will upload and submit their information in ArriveCAN (including but not limited to: contact information, vaccine information, test results and quarantine plan) within 72 hours of arrival to Canada.
- All Participants agree to download and use the COVID Alert application on their smartphones.
- All Participants will have a plan, prior to arrival in Canada, for how to isolate for 10 days in Canada should he test positive or become symptomatic.
- Participants will self-monitor for symptoms prior to their departure and ICAO will provide to participants, prior to departure, additional instructions to follow for persons exempt from mandatory quarantine arriving in Canada (including individual public health measures to follow in all settings).
- The participant(s) should not travel to Canada if they have any symptoms of COVID-19 (see the Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC)
list of COVID-19 symptoms)
B. Testing
- Participants not considered fully vaccinated, as per the meaning of the
Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order (the Order), will provide to the aircraft operator evidence of:
| a) | a negative COVID-19 molecular test result from a test taken no more than 72 hours before the aircraft’s initial scheduled departure time (air) or before entering Canada (land); |
| b) | a negative rapid antigen detection test (RADT) result from a test administered or observed by an accredited laboratory or testing provider taken no more that 24 hours before initial scheduled departure time (air) or before entering Canada (land); |
| c) | a positive result for the test that was performed on a specimen collected at least 10 days and no more than 180 days before the aircraft’s initial scheduled departure time before boarding. |
| - | Please see list of acceptable tests on the
Canada.ca website. |
| - | Evidence of test result must be retained for 14 days in order to provide upon request. |
| - | Failure to show test requires quarantine until test is performed and a negative result is received. |
- Upon arrival in Canada, said participants must take a RADT or molecular COVID-19 test within 24 hours of arrival (unless participant enters Canada on the basis of a positive COVID-19 test from 10-180 days prior to travel, in which case the participant need not undergo testing in Canada). Guidelines and arrangements for testing will be available at the ICAO Medical Centre.
- * Quebec’s public health authorities recommend that the said participants undergo testing in Canada unless they received a positive COVID-19 test within the last 10 to
90 days prior to travel.
- If the said participant remains in Canada and entered on the basis of a negative pre-arrival test, the participant must take a RADT or molecular COVID-19 test on day 8 after the day on which they arrived in Canada.
- ICAO is responsible for coordinating private COVID‐19 testing in Canada upon arrival, as well as for testing at day 8 post arrival, paid for by the said participant or the host. Guidance for testing will be provided by the ICAO Medical Centre. Biron manages COVID-19 testing for international travellers in Quebec. The following private laboratories are recognized by the Laboratoire de Santé publique du Québec should ICAO be unable to coordinate private COVID-19 testing with Biron.
-
Dynacare
1-800-565 5721 -
CDL Laboratories Inc.
1-514-344 8022
- Testing will not be coordinated with local Public Health Authorities.
- Any positive result will be reported immediately to local Public Health Authority (mado.sat@santepub-mtl.qc.ca), the
Permanent Mission of Canada to ICAO,
PHAC and if applicable enter the result into the said participant’s COVID Alert application.
C. Physical Distancing Protocols
- Each participant to either the HLM-LTAG or the 41st Session of the ICAO Assembly who required an exemption must wear the best quality and best fitting respirator or mask at all times when the said participant is outside of their place of accommodation, and may only remove their masks for safety or security reasons during the 14‐day period following entry to Canada. The said participant must also follow local public health directives on the wearing of masks and follow the more stringent requirements. The said participants should maximize physical distance with others by:
| - | Avoiding getting physically close to or have direct physical contact with others; and |
| - | Avoiding or limiting the amount of time spent in closed spaces and crowded places. |
- The said participants must practice proper hygiene (e.g. cleaning hands with alcohol-based sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol, or plain soap and water, avoid touching face, perform respiratory etiquette (e.g. sneezing/coughing into a tissue or bend of the arm and wash hands immediately after) and clean high-touch surfaces frequently.
- The said participant should be encouraged to conduct a personal risk assessment to determine or estimate their risk level and adhere to strict individual public health measures or adjust work assignments/support telework as recommended.
- The said participants of both events are to limit contact with people who are at risk of more severe diseases or outcomes from COVID-19, such as older adults or those with compromised immune systems.
D. Screening and Self-Monitoring
- Each participant to either the HLM-LTAG or the 41st Session of the ICAO Assembly who required an exemption should consistently self-monitor for any
signs and symptoms of COVID 19 everyday before leaving their accomodation, and throughout the day.
- If a said participant develops signs or symptoms develop, the said participant is no longer exempt from quarantine, must immediately isolate for 10 days and follow any instructions provided by Santé Québec (including the isolation length of time) or specified by a screening officer or quarantine officer. If the said participant develops signs and symptoms of COVID-19, the said participant must take a COVID-19 test within 12 hours of symptom onset.
- The said participant should be instructed to stay at their accommodation place when sick:
| - | Wear the best quality and best fitting respirator or mask available; |
| - | Keep place of accommodation well ventilated; and |
| - | Report worsening of symptoms to a health care provider or local public health authority for further assessment. |
- Any positive result will be reported immediately to local Public Health Authority on the Government of Quebec website at:
https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/health-issues/a-z/2019-coronavirus/testing-for-covid-19/reporting-rapid-test-results, (mado.sat@santepub-mtl.qc.ca), the
Permanent Mission of Canada to ICAO,
PHAC and if applicable enter the result into the said participant’s COVID Alert application.
- Even if a said participant has symptoms but tests negative for COVID-19, they must remain in isolation for a minimum of 10 days and until their symptoms resolve, and in accordance with additional instructions of Santé Québec.
- A symptomatic said participant is only allowed to leave Canada in accordance with the instructions of a quarantine officer. They must isolate until departure, and must depart via private vehicle.
- The said participant must continue to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms for 14 days following their departure. They should notify ICAO as soon as possible after developing symptoms. ICAO will then follow Santé Québec’s directions related to self-monitoring, quarantine and testing requirements of contact.
E. Transportation
- Expected participant(s) who required an exemption will be instructed to travel in separate vehicles. Transportation to and from the hotel/airport/facilities will be provided by the Resident Delegation or its equivalent.
- The vehicles will be thoroughly disinfected after each trip.
- The participant(s) who required an exemption will be instructed to not visit any other locations during their visit.
- The participant(s) who required an exemption must travel to/from their place of exemption via private vehicle; they cannot use public transportation. Unless alone in the vehicle, the said participant in transit must adhere to personal preventative practices:
| - | WEAR a well-constructed and well-fitting respirator or mask while in transit; |
| - | PRACTICE physical distancing of 2 metres when possible such as sitting in the back away from the driver; |
| - | INCREASE ventilation in the vehicle by opening windows and avoid using the recirculated air option for the car’s ventilation, use the car’s vents to bring in fresh air; |
| - | SANITIZE your hands when entering/exiting the vehicle; |
| - | AVOID contact with surfaces frequently touched by passengers or other drivers, said participants should handle their own baggage; |
| - | REMAIN in the vehicle as much as possible: pay at the pump for gas and use drive through when you need food; |
| - | AVOID stops and contact with others while in transit; and |
| - | Both the driver and passenger(s) should continuously self-monitor for
COVID-19 symptoms. |
F. Accommodation
- All the participants who required an exemption will stay at the same location for the entire duration of their stay related to either the HLM-LTAG and/or the 41st Session of the ICAO Assembly.
- The said participants must remain in their place of accommodation unless traveling to or from the location that is the basis for their exemption.
- The said participants are not allowed to use amenities at the place of accommodation (e.g., must not use the gym, or restaurant, go out for a walk, etc.). Visitors are not permitted.
- Meals and any necessities of life will be delivered to the rooms via contactless delivery and meals eaten in their rooms.
G. Compliance
Participants who required an exemption should be aware that a violation or non-compliance of a regulatory requirement would lead to NIE revocation and could also lead to further measures as appropriate1.
Under Article 13 of the Headquarters agreement, any Representative (not Permanent Representative under Article 12) of a member State enjoys privileges and immunities. It is also clear that all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities have the duty to respect the laws and regulations of Canada.
