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Quarantine and ArriveCAN / Spouse joining

cinvest2021

Star Member
Jan 2, 2021
89
11
Hello, happy new year everyone,

I just arrived in Canada and now doing my quarantine at day 2. (for info., I am PR). I set up ArriveCAN accordingly on my phone and it is already pushing notifications.

There is question that my spouse will be joining Canada in a matter of few days, that is before I complete my quarantine.

The spouse will join me at same accomodation where I am currently in self isolation.

I understand that this will reset my counter and I will have to re-quarantine counting 14 days from the time of their arrival. This is not a big issue.

Technically how this is managed via ArriveCAN, that the plan is updated and my counter is restarted accordingly? What action do I and/or spouse need to take in this case?

I assume spouse will have to explain this to customs, does this mean that the process is done automatically so I will get notifications to continue on my App after the day that is counted as day 14 based on original plan, so to match new plan?

Thanks in advance
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,587
13,519
Hello, happy new year everyone,

I just arrived in Canada and now doing my quarantine at day 2. (for info., I am PR). I set up ArriveCAN accordingly on my phone and it is already pushing notifications.

There is question that my spouse will be joining Canada in a matter of few days, that is before I complete my quarantine.

The spouse will join me at same accomodation where I am currently in self isolation.

I understand that this will reset my counter and I will have to re-quarantine counting 14 days from the time of their arrival. This is not a big issue.

Technically how this is managed via ArriveCAN, that the plan is updated and my counter is restarted accordingly? What action do I and/or spouse need to take in this case?

I assume spouse will have to explain this to customs, does this mean that the process is done automatically so I will get notifications to continue on my App after the day that is counted as day 14 based on original plan, so to match new plan?

Thanks in advance
Your spouse should really be quarantining separately because she/he has not travelled with you so could potentially infect you or you can infect him/her leading to an extra avoidable case of covid.
 

cinvest2021

Star Member
Jan 2, 2021
89
11
Sure, it is a valid case and we are reviewing our options.

In case, spouse join me, how is it managed in view of ArriveCAN? Could you provide some pointers.

Thanks
 

fr72

Hero Member
Jan 6, 2017
376
253
Sure, it is a valid case and we are reviewing our options.

In case, spouse join me, how is it managed in view of ArriveCAN? Could you provide some pointers.

Thanks
Just ask the IRCC. You will need to extend the quarantine. Risk is pretty low, if you had been infected, symptoms usually show up in 4-5 days, whatever bureaucrats might say.
 

steaky

VIP Member
Nov 11, 2008
14,770
1,750
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
Just ask the IRCC. You will need to extend the quarantine. Risk is pretty low, if you had been infected, symptoms usually show up in 4-5 days, whatever bureaucrats might say.
Symptoms might also show up between day 2 to 19th. That's why most countries requires travelers to isolate for 2 weeks.
 

steaky

VIP Member
Nov 11, 2008
14,770
1,750
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
Sure, it is a valid case and we are reviewing our options.

In case, spouse join me, how is it managed in view of ArriveCAN? Could you provide some pointers.

Thanks
Canuck78 probably don't travel, so it's useless to ask her.

On day 1, within 48 hours of your arrival at your quarantine place, you check-in via telephone, the app or the webpage. From day 2 to 14, you can check-in using the app.
 

cinvest2021

Star Member
Jan 2, 2021
89
11
Canuck78 probably don't travel, so it's useless to ask her.

On day 1, within 48 hours of your arrival at your quarantine place, you check-in via telephone, the app or the webpage. From day 2 to 14, you can check-in using the app.
That's right. First day, I did use the phone. Day 2 and onward I check-in via App.

If spouse joins me from abroad by, say, day 9 of my quarantine, then I have to start all over.

Question is, how is this done with the App. in the event of this scenario ?
Do I have to call some health authority's phone number to explain and they would reset the App. so it starts all over the counting?
 

steaky

VIP Member
Nov 11, 2008
14,770
1,750
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
That's right. First day, I did use the phone. Day 2 and onward I check-in via App.

If spouse joins me from abroad by, say, day 9 of my quarantine, then I have to start all over.

Question is, how is this done with the App. in the event of this scenario ?
Do I have to call some health authority's phone number to explain and they would reset the App. so it starts all over the counting?
Wait. Someone from the government called twice during the 14 days to see how we are doing. You can make the explanation during the conversation.
 

fr72

Hero Member
Jan 6, 2017
376
253
Symptoms might also show up between day 2 to 19th. That's why most countries requires travelers to isolate for 2 weeks.
Sure, thats why the OP has to extend his quarantine. But staying apart from spouse at great expense is not worth it IMO.
 
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cinvest2021

Star Member
Jan 2, 2021
89
11
Wait. Someone from the government called twice during the 14 days to see how we are doing. You can make the explanation during the conversation.
I hope I get the chance to speak to an operator. But what if not?
Can we contact the health authorities via the webform for this purpose?
I got contacted by phone to answer questions, however it was handled by an automated bot.
 

cinvest2021

Star Member
Jan 2, 2021
89
11
Sure, thats why the OP has to extend his quarantine. But staying apart from spouse at great expense is not worth it IMO.
Yes, you are right, it is truly expensive and on top of that spouse has some language limitations that is why it is better if I am there to offer help. Ideally we would have travelled altogether but unfortunately we could not have done it this way.
Our mitigation plan is that spouse will undergo PCR testing as requirement from the country of departure, so it boils to how to not get infected during travel, so probably extreme vigilance although we know it is not full proof...yet we are evaluating all options.
 

fr72

Hero Member
Jan 6, 2017
376
253
Yes, you are right, it is truly expensive and on top of that spouse has some language limitations that is why it is better if I am there to offer help. Ideally we would have travelled altogether but unfortunately we could not have done it this way.
Our mitigation plan is that spouse will undergo PCR testing as requirement from the country of departure, so it boils to how to not get infected during travel, so probably extreme vigilance although we know it is not full proof...yet we are evaluating all options.
Don't worry about the flight. Wear a mask and you will be fine. Less than 0.7% of flight passengers are infected and this is before the new covid test rule. If spread in flight was easy, the study would have found a higher proportion infected after 7 and 14 days.

Source: https://brighterworld.mcmaster.ca/articles/interim-report-shows-results-of-covid-19-tests-for-arriving-international-travellers/

Ignore some members here (you know who), who just want to criticize everything immigrants do.
 

cinvest2021

Star Member
Jan 2, 2021
89
11
Extra question:
I have an extra SIM card to pass over to my spouse before starting their quarantine. Can I leave the card by my door (it will be wiped clean with alcohol upfront), so that a friend picks it up by me and then hand it over to my spouse on arrival. That friend is the same who will drive spouse to location of quarantine (if not same as mine / alternative plan case) ; they can hand over the SIM card to spouse (leaving it on the rear seat) so not to break social distancing.

I know it is a bit weird question, but it is safe and legal?
 

fr72

Hero Member
Jan 6, 2017
376
253
Extra question:
I have an extra SIM card to pass over to my spouse before starting their quarantine. Can I leave the card by my door (it will be wiped clean with alcohol upfront), so that a friend picks it up by me and then hand it over to my spouse on arrival. That friend is the same who will drive spouse to location of quarantine (if not same as mine / alternative plan case) ; they can hand over the SIM card to spouse (leaving it on the rear seat) so not to break social distancing.

I know it is a bit weird question, but it is safe and legal?
Hand it over how? In person? Not recommended. Ask your spouse to take a cab from the airport. Airport cabs have clear plastic partition between driver and passenger now. It is much safer than anyone picking them up. If your spouse doesnt have a credit card (they tap over the plastic), then book a pre paid cab. Don't try to skimp here. What is this hurry for sim card anyway? Just for a "i landed" call?

Why so many complications? If your spouse is really this challenged in traveling alone, why not postpone their trip beyond your quarantine end date (most airlines now have free changes) and then pick them up yourself and then quarantine together?
 
Last edited:

cinvest2021

Star Member
Jan 2, 2021
89
11
Hand it over how? In person? Not recommended. Ask your spouse to take a cab from the airport. Airport cabs have clear plastic partition between driver and passenger now. It is much safer than anyone picking them up. If your spouse doesnt have a credit card (they tap over the plastic), then book a pre paid cab. Don't try to skimp here. What is this hurry for sim card anyway? Just for a "i landed" call?

Why so many complications? If your spouse is really this challenged in traveling alone, why not postpone their trip beyond your quarantine end date (most airlines now have free changes) and then pick them up yourself and then quarantine together?
Spouse does not have a Canadian phone number to put in arriveCAN before traveling, do you have a suggestion?

Postponing flight is an option, but we are bound to one company for some reasons and the flights become hugely expensive at later dates (namely after my quarantine is over).

What you say makes sense, but this is the context is as I described. Thanks for any advice.