The federal government is adding more quarantine hotels to its approved list to ensure there are enough rooms available for returning travelers.

It also warns travelers that if they can’t secure a room before arriving in Canada, they should change their scheduled arrival dates if they don’t want to risk being sent to a particular quarantine facility.

Beginning February 22nd, most passengers entering Canada will be required to adhere to new travel policies that include a three-day hotel quarantine. Passengers must pre-book their quarantined hotel stay prior to arriving in Canada.

Since the introduction of the new quarantine policy, travelers have turned to CBC News Identify problems with the booking system. Many have complained that they cannot phone the booking service or reach an agent to find out that there are no rooms available.

No room in the inn

Mahsa Rezaei said she had a stressful few days trying to book a room in Vancouver so her husband could start his quarantine Friday night.

She said she started making calls last week to secure a room but was told they could only book 48 hours in advance.

But when she called back within the 48 hour booking window, she said she had been told everything was sold out.

“I wanted to book the hotel properly, but that was just not an option,” she said. “It was really unsafe and that was the most stressful part.”

A room was finally opened on Thursday evening. Rezaei said she was disappointed to learn that the government operator of the booking service couldn’t tell her what would happen if hotel rooms were not available.

“It was more of … ‘If you don’t have a room you’ll still be fined,'” she said.

A spokesman for the Canadian Public Health Authority (PHAC) said there are currently 47 hotels serving as state-authorized quarantine accommodations in the four cities that accept international flights, and the agency is adding more hotels to the list.

“It is important that travelers understand that it is their responsibility to ensure they have a confirmed, government-approved hotel booking prior to flying to Canada. Failure to do so could result in enforcement actions including fines of up to.” to $ 3,000 for every day of non-compliance, “said a PHAC spokesman.

“The more passengers receive their test results and leave the facilities to go to their appropriate quarantine location, the more rooms will become available. If there are no rooms available for their preferred dates, travelers will need to change their flight to a date that a from government authorized hotel is available. “

The agency said that individuals unable to secure a room in a government-authorized hotel will be assessed by a quarantine officer and may be directed to a designated quarantine facility or other appropriate location for quarantine.

According to the PHAC, 15 tickets are known to have been issued beginning March 8 to travelers who have come to Canada without booking government-approved accommodation and subsequently refusing to go to one.