I hear borders are closed. Can I travel right now within Canada or abroad? Where can I go to find out if the Canadian government has issued a travel advisory for my destination?

Travel within Canada is not the subject of Government of Canada advisories but may be limited by provincial restrictions. States of emergency, quarantine requirements, entry restrictions, curfews and other measures may be in place or be introduced by province or region and that will mean restricted mobility. Check provincial websites for the most up-to-date information by province. For Canadian government travel advisories, go to travel.gc.ca.

There are four levels of travel advisory. The top two levels may be mentioned in a travel insurance policy and, if mentioned, can impact your coverage.

• Level 3 means the government recommends against any non-essential travel to that country or region.

• Level 4 is the highest level and it states that Canadians should avoid all travel to a country or region and should come home if already there.

To stop the spread of COVID-19, our government closed our land borders on March 13, 2020, and issued a Level 3 Advisory that applies globally. In other words, COVID-19 caused the Government of Canada to advise against non-essential travel to any other country in the world! An advisory this broad is unprecedented.

Before travelling outside of Canada, check for any new travel restrictions, guidelines, or requirements at your destination country such as quarantine requirements upon arrival or the need for a recent negative COVID-19 test. An interruption of your trip may be caused by a positive test or temperature check. COVID-19 has significantly impacted the experience you will have on your trip. It is not just business as usual. It is extremely important to understand how your travel insurance will respond to some of these new types of events before you book a trip and again before you start your journey.

If you are planning to travel within Canada, note that COVID-19 can also impact your travel and your travel insurance coverage. Flights can be cancelled or interrupted due to COVID19 complications. Contracting COVID-19 while travelling in another province can result in the same transportation and quarantine challenges you would face abroad, and you should contact your provider to find out how your policy will respond.

KNOW YOUR TRIP – Ask your provider and check available websites for details before travelling outside of your home province.