Cross-border truck drivers don’t need to wait 14 days for doctor visits, college says
TORONTO, Ont. – The College of Physicians of Ontario is confirming that essential workers do not need to quarantine for 14 days before an in-person visit with a doctor, even if crossing the Canada-U.S. border in the course of their jobs.
Essential workers like truck drivers are not required to quarantine for 14 days after returning to Canada, even though the rule applies to other people entering the country.
“Recognizing that these individuals have been deemed essential workers and exempted from the quarantine and isolation rules set out by the federal government, the college is supportive of physicians exercising their clinical judgment regarding how to best care for these patients when they screen positive solely because of work-related travel,” the group says in a notice distributed by the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA).
“An immediate deferral of in-person care or redirection to another facility is not necessary in these instances provided appropriate safety precautions can be met. If there is no opportunity to see a patient following a 14-day window without travel across the border or a negative Covid-19 test, physicians can arrange to see the patient for any in-person care if they can satisfy the recommended precautions to do so safely.”
The precautions include isolating the individuals as soon as they arrive, and using appropriate personal protective equipment.
The clarification comes in the wake of the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) asking to review related policies, to help ensure symptom-free drivers who have not tested positive for Covid-19 can receive the same medical services offered to other Ontario residents.
“The trucking industry would like to thank CPSO for intervening in this matter,” said OTA policy director Lak Shoan. “This policy should ensure that all cross-border truck drivers receive the same medical attention as all other essential workers and Ontarians.”
The OTA says it is asking to review policies of colleges that oversee dental, massage therapy, and chiropractic services as well.
Have your say
This is a moderated forum. Comments will no longer be published unless they are accompanied by a first and last name and a verifiable email address. (Today's Trucking will not publish or share the email address.) Profane language and content deemed to be libelous, racist, or threatening in nature will not be published under any circumstances.
This is fantastic news but it still does not alleviate large vehicle accessability and appointment issues for covid testing.
Our cross-border and interprovincial drivers still have to make appointments for test centres that for the most part are in urban areas with no large vehicle parking and have to make appointments days in advance that they may or may not be able to keep.
In most cases, the very nature of their jobs, restricts their abilities to actually make the appointment times due to logistics, border crossing or weather related issues.
When the province partnered with Driver Check in August, those issues were eliminated because the testing sites were set up at or in proximity to, truck parking areas.
Our drivers, a very important Essential Service were forgotten about. Some of these people are looking forward to time at home with families over the holiday, but are frightened of the possibility of bringing an unwanted visitor with them.
Where the heck does one think Covid coming from the US is coming from?? From all persons crossing the BORDER. Truckers and all people need to have a negative COVID test to enter.
I cross the border to pick up a prescription at a drive through pharmacy and upon my return, I need a negative Covid test within 72 hrs in order to enter Ontario. Unless the wheels of my vehicle picks up Covid I think I’m pretty safe. Plus, I have to isolate for 14 days to go through a drive through!!!!!!!!
Yet, Truckers and other cross border workers returning to Ontario do no need Covid negative results nor isolate!!!!
Does this seem APPROPRIATE??? Or FAIR???
Tell that to the O P P in Ontario.