COVID-19 vaccination will soon be required for all air travellers, cruise passengers and riders on interprovincial trains in Canada.

According to Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, this covers all commercial air travellers, passengers on interprovincial railways, and cruise ship passengers. Canada opened its borders to fully vaccinated American citizens and permanent residents less than a week ago.

Vaccinations are also required for all federal government employees in the country.

“As soon as possible in the fall and no later than the end of October, the Government of Canada will require employees in the federally regulated air, rail, and marine transportation sectors to be vaccinated. The vaccination requirement will also extend to certain travelers. This includes all commercial air travelers,” Alghabra’s office said in a statement.

Air travellers entering Canada must currently present documentation of negative COVID-19 PCR test findings obtained within 72 hours before their scheduled departure. Unvaccinated flying travellers must take another COVID-19 test when they arrive in Canada and near the end of a 14-day quarantine.

Additional efforts, according to Alghabra, are needed to encourage more individuals to get vaccinated and to protect the country’s hard-won successes in flattening the epidemic curve.

According to data from Johns Hopkins University and Medicine, Canada has one of the world’s highest immunisation rates, with around 63.37 % fully vaccinated. Despite this, a fourth wave of cases has begun to emerge, according to Canada’s top health official.

The CDC and the US State Department both lowered their travel advisories for Canada earlier this week, but the US border is expected to remain closed to Canadian travellers until at least August 21.

The Canadian government is developing a vaccine passport that may be used anywhere in the world.

Air Canada, the country’s largest domestic and international carrier, issued a statement supporting the new regulations and promising to work with the government and labour unions to put them in place.

The statement reads: “Although Air Canada awaits further details about today’s announcement on mandatory vaccinations, it is a welcome step forward in the evolving measures to protect the health and safety of airline employees, customers and all Canadians.”

– India’s new age travel digital media