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Upon Arrival

  • Be prepared to follow airline and airport directions about wearing a mask/face covering, washing/sanitizing your hands, staying 2 meters apart from other people, or other actions.
  • Answer every question from airline, airport or border staff completely and truthfully. It is okay to ask someone to repeat a question or explain it in a different way if you do not understand.
  • Travel directly to your place of quarantine. Do not stop anywhere. Wear a mask or face covering while traveling to your place of quarantine.
  • Contact Heartland by email or phone to tell us that you have arrived. Be sure to give the office your most up to date contact information (email address, postal address, phone number).
  • Please continue to check these websites for the most up to date information:
    • Government of Manitoba COVID-19 information here.
    • Government of Canada COVID-19 information here.

Quarantine Period

Prior to arrival, you confirmed your accommodations, including your location for 14 days of self-isolation. Please also refer to the Shared Health Manitoba COVID-19 public health fact sheet and self-isolation fact sheets (available in multiple languages) located at https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/providers/other-resources/ to assist you in being prepared and knowledgeable in requirements for quarantine and to link you to essential services.

It is important that you follow the Government of Canada’s requirements for quarantine, including:

  • Quarantining in a location without vulnerable people, such as those over the age of 65 or individuals with underlying medical conditions;
  • Having access to basic necessities such as food and toiletries;
  • Wearing a mask when being transported to your place of quarantine;
  • Traveling directly from your point of arrival in Manitoba to your place of quarantine; and
  • Monitoring your health for symptoms of COVID-19 throughout the 14 days of quarantine.

Students will be required to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 using the Manitoba Self Screening Tool.  If a student experiences any symptoms of Covid-19 during the quarantine period, he/she must follow the directives of the Province of Manitoba.

  • The Screening Tool is available in Interactive Voice Response (IVR) format. Call 1-877-308-9038 or online at https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/screening-tool/.
  • The Province of Manitoba offers a service called Health Links – Info Santé, is a bilingual phone-based nursing triage service. They can give you advice on what health-care path should be followed in your specific situation, whether you should stay home, visit the emergency room, or follow another medical plan. They can be contacted at 204-788-8200 or toll-free at 1-888-315-9257.

Heartland’s administrative team will also check-in with students daily by phone or email during their quarantine period to enquire about their general mental and physical health.  Students will also be reminded to take the self-screening assessment daily: https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/screening-tool/.

 

International students and co-arriving family members are advised to use the ArriveCAN application within 48 hours after arrival in Canada, and for their daily symptom reporting.

 

A student that is quarantining alone and who tests positive for COVID-19 during the 14-day quarantine period will need to self-isolate, unless they require medical attention and/or hospitalization.  Please refer to Guard.me for eligible expenses. Any student or co-arriving immediate family member that tests positive can expect to be contacted by Manitoba public health officials and will be required to follow all further measures as set out by the public health official, which may include self-isolating beyond the inital14-day quarantine period.

 

If a student tests positive for COVID-19 while quarantining with an immediate family member(s), the student will be separated from the family member(s) and will need to self-isolate.  The family member(s) will need to move to another guestroom and will be monitored for symptoms of COVID-19 during wellness check-ins by Heartland’s Administrative Team.  Family member(s) who had been quarantining with a student that tests positive for COVID-19 should expect to be contacted by Manitoba public health officials and will be considered a close contact to this case, and may need to continue to quarantine beyond the 14-day quarantine period.

If a co-arriving immediate family member tests positive for COVID-19 while quarantining with a student, the family member (s) will be separated from the student and need to self-isolate, likely beyond the family member(s) initial 14-day quarantine period. The student will need to move into another guestroom, and will be monitored for symptoms of COVID-19 during wellness check-ins by Heartland’s Administrative team.  The student should expect to be contacted by Manitoba public health officials and will be considered a close contact to the case, and may need to continue to quarantine beyond the initial 14-day quarantine period.

The unexpected guestroom and meal costs due to the student or family member(s) testing positive for COVID-19 will be the students’ responsibility.

Manitoba public health will contact all cases and contacts daily and perform active daily monitoring on cases and contacts for the duration of self-isolation and will advise each when that requirement ends.

 

Daily Check-ins

International students and co-arriving family members should use the ArriveCAN application within 48 hours after arrival in Canada, and for their daily symptom reporting to the federal government.

Heartland’s administrative team will also check-in with students daily by phone or email during their quarantine period to enquire about their general mental and physical well-being, as well as that of their co-arriving family members.  Students will also be asked about their compliance with quarantine requirements.  Students and co-arriving family members will also be reminded to take the self-screening assessment daily: https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/screening-tool/ and the ArriveCAN application.

If a student experiences any symptoms of COVID-19 during the quarantine period, they must follow the directives of the Province of Manitoba. The Screening Tool is available in the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) format. Call 1-877-308-9038 or find it online.

The Province of Manitoba offers a service called Health Links – Info Santé, which is a bilingual phone-based nursing triage service. Health Links – Info Santé can give you advice on what health-care path should be followed in your specific situation. They can be contacted at 204-788-8200 or toll-free at 1-888-315-9257.

Tips for Quarantining

Quarantining can be difficult for some students, especially those who are energized by interactions with others. It is important that you take care of yourself during this time of isolation and to keep connected with your friends and family using other methods, such as FaceTime and Zoom. Here are a few useful tips to get you through the two week period:

  • Develop a support network. Form an online chat group with close friends; stay in contact with your family and reach out to your school advisors and instructors by email. The more people you know at your educational institution, the more connected you’ll feel!
  • Be active. Exercise is important for your mental outlook and helps ward off depression. Take a break from your quarantine boredom and get moving on a regular basis. There are many online home workouts that are useful when quarantining!
  • Eat well. Choose a wide variety of healthy, nutritious foods. Eat regularly to keep up your energy and portions that help you feel and perform your best.
  • Get enough sleep. Sleep is vital to your mental well-being. Go to bed at a reasonable hour and wake up at roughly the same time every day. Jet lag may be a challenge for you as part of your adjustment to your move to Canada, so it might be useful to download meditation or sleep apps that help you develop a regular sleep schedule.
  • Seek professional help. You’re not alone and there are many people who can help. Talk to a professional about how you are feeling; talk to your school’s student services team. Don’t just rely on the advice of friends. Sometimes you need more and we’re here to support you.
  • Take a break from watching or reading the news. Get your news from reliable sources and try not to watch the same stressful stories over and over in the same day. Try not end your day by watching the news before bed.

 

After Your Quarantine

After your 14-day quarantine has passed, if you have no symptoms, you may now attend school, leave your home and begin to explore your community in the Province of Manitoba, Canada.

Continue to follow and respect Manitoba Health regulations and directives, including physical distancing from other people in public and washing or sanitizing your hands often.

Remember to use proper coughing and sneezing etiquette (into your elbow, not your hand and if using a tissue, dispose of the tissue in a plastic lined garbage container immediately).

Avoid malls, crowded spaces, and sports where physical distancing is difficult.

If you feel sick at any time, stay at home and be sure to tell your Program, immediately. Use the self-assessment tool at https://sharedhealthmb.ca/covid19/screening-tool/. Follow directions and seek medical attention or contact public health authorities if, when, and how it recommends.

Don’t forget, your health insurance provider, Guard.me International Insurance, offers remote access to doctors as well as mental health support services if you need them.