OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says shutdown of the Canada-U.S. border to all non-essential travel is likely going to be one of the suite of public health restrictions set to remain in place for weeks. This comes as the federal government imposes tougher mandatory quarantine measures for returning travellers.

Over the last month, COVID-19 has considerably shaken up Canadians’ lives and Trudeau said Tuesday that it will be “a while still” before governments can consider getting the economy and other aspects of society back up and running, including allowing international visitors on Canadian soil. Though, talks are underway with the provinces about the best way to reopen things such as schools and businesses in phases in the weeks ahead.

“I know that everyone is very interested to know when things are going to get back to normal, when they’ll be able to go back to work, when we’ll be able to leave this isolation at home… The reality is, it is going to be weeks still,” Trudeau said.

This comes as some other countries that are further ahead in the respiratory virus’ curve ready themselves to ease up on some restrictions. Trudeau said Canada isn’t there yet—and won’t be for “a good while still”—despite the eagerness of many to return to some semblance of normalcy.

“Travel restrictions are going to remain extremely important in terms of containing the spread of COVID-19 in Canada and we're going to continue to work with the Americans and people around the world, to ensure that we continue with these restrictions,” Trudeau said.

The prime minister also announced on Tuesday that effective at midnight, anyone who is returning to Canada from abroad has to have a “credible quarantine plan” or they will be forced to spend 14 days in isolation in a “quarantine location.”  

This is an update to the current policy under the Quarantine Act, which came into effect on March 25, that made it mandatory for those arriving in Canada from abroad to self-isolate for 14 days, with public health officials and the RCMP following up.

Trudeau said this strengthening of the Quarantine Act will give authorities the ability to evaluate the plan presented by the person coming into Canada and determine whether it’s adequate or if they need to be placed in a location “like a hotel.”

RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki told CTV News on Monday that since being tasked with checking up on those told to self-isolate or quarantine, the RCMP had yet to issue a single ticket. Those caught not self-isolating face fines of up to $750,000 and/or imprisonment for six months. 

The prime minister said, for example, a plan would be considered inadequate if a traveler says they intend to stay with elderly family members, or someone with pre-existing health conditions, or if they don’t have a set destination.

Offering more detail on the latest border measures, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said this new rule will apply to all people entering whether by air, land, or sea and applies to both symptomatic and asymptomatic travellers.

Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam will be designating the approved locations for these returning Canadians to be quarantined.

The federal government will cover the costs to put up these people, and will be responsible for making sure they have access to essential services including food and medication. Freeland said this move was made following talks with the premiers and is an “additional layer” of protection for Canadians against the pandemic.