Canadians hire taxis to return from US, avoid hotel quarantine

Canadians in the United States are hiring taxis to cross the border into Canada and avoid mandatory COVID-19 hotel quarantine for air travellers, leading to a boom in transportation services in American border cities.

All travellers coming to Canada must present a negative COVID-19 test taken up to 72 hours before arrival, as well as take another test when they enter the country and spend 14 days in quarantine.

But people flying into Canada must also pay for a mandatory three-night stay at a government-authorised hotel at the start of their quarantine period, which is estimated at more than $961 ($1,200 Canadian),By comparison, a taxi trip to the border can cost around $200-$250.

This has led to a surge in calls for taxi and limousine services from Canadians in the US who fly through US airports in states like New York and then cross over the 6,416km (3,987-mile) land border, rather than flying into Canada directly.