Canada extends border restrictions on travellers entering the country.
On Wednesday, the federal government announced that all current border restrictions will remain in effect until at least September 30. This implies that overseas travellers will still be required to present proof of vaccination in order to enter the country, while unvaccinated Canadians and permanent residents will be required to submit to a molecular Covid-19 test prior to entry and 14 days of quarantine upon arrival. In addition, the government still requires all travellers, regardless of nationality, to upload their vaccination information and travel documents to the ArriveCan app. The last extension of the limitations was on May 31.
In addition, the suspension of mandatory random testing at all airports for travellers who are properly vaccinated will continue until mid-July. The government of Canada plans to relocate COVID-19 testing for air travellers outside of airports to select test provider stores, pharmacies, or by virtual appointment. The 11th of June, 2022, delay allows airports to work on optimising procedures. The requirement for random testing at land border entrance locations remains unchanged. Unless excluded, travellers who do not qualify as fully immunised will continue to be tested on Day 1 and Day 8 of their 14-day quarantine.
Moving testing outside of airports will allow Canada to adapt to growing traveller loads while maintaining the ability to monitor and respond rapidly to novel variations of concern or epidemiological changes. Border testing is a vital tool for the discovery and surveillance of COVID-19 in Canada, and it has been crucial to our efforts to slow the virus’s spread. The testing program’s results are utilised to comprehend the present level and patterns of COVID-19 importation into Canada. Additionally, border testing enables the detection and identification of new COVID-19 variants of concern that potentially pose a substantial threat to Canadians’ health and safety. In addition, these data have and continue to inform the Canadian government’s safe relaxation of border restrictions.
With rare exceptions, all tourists must continue to use ArriveCAN (free mobile app or website) to provide mandatory travel information 72 hours prior to their arrival in Canada or before boarding a cruise ship bound for Canada. Additional efforts are being made to improve ArriveCAN compliance, which already exceeds 95 percent for travellers arriving by land and air combined.
Quotes
“As we move into the next phase of our COVID-19 response, it is important to remember that the pandemic is not over. We must continue to do all that we can to keep ourselves and others safe from the virus. It is also important for individuals to remain up to date with the recommended vaccinations to ensure they are adequately protected against infection, transmission, and severe complications. As we have said all along, Canada’s border measures will remain flexible and adaptable, guided by science and prudence.” said The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Health Minister
The Respectable Transport Minister Omar Alghabra commented: “Today’s announcement would not be possible without Canadians’ continued efforts to vaccinate themselves, wear their masks, and follow public health advice while travelling. Our Government’s commitment will always be to protect passengers, employees, and their communities from the impacts of COVID-19, while keeping our transportation system strong, efficient, and resilient for the long-term.”
