Close X
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
ADVT 
National

Feds drop mandatory PCR test for travel

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 15 Feb, 2022 01:26 PM
  • Feds drop mandatory PCR test for travel

OTTAWA - Vaccinated travellers will no longer need a molecular COVID-19 test to enter Canada starting Feb. 28 because the COVID-19 situation in Canada has improved, the federal health minister announced Tuesday.

Travellers can instead opt for a rapid antigen test approved by the country in which it is purchased. However, Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said rapid tests will have to be administered by a laboratory or health care entity.

Unvaccinated children travelling with vaccinated adults who come to Canada will no longer have to isolate from school or daycare for 14 days.

Some fully vaccinated travellers might still be randomly selected for a molecular test at the airport, but they will not be required to quarantine while they wait for the result.

Unvaccinated Canadians will need to be tested at the airport and again eight days after arrival, and isolate for 14 days.

The government also plans to lift its advisory urging Canadians to avoid all non-essential travel outside the country due to the risk of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

The government will consider easing restrictions further in coming weeks if the epidemiological situation continues to improve, hospitalizations continue to diminish, and Canadian Canadians continue to get their booster shots, Duclos said.

More airports will also be able to receive international flights after Feb. 28, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced. For now, only 18 Canadian airports are allowed to accept international flights.

In addition to international airports, other airports in communities like Windsor, London, Fort McMurray, and Moncton will also start to receive flights from abroad, Alghabra said.

He promised more information about how COVID-19 testing will work for cruise ships travellers arriving at Canadian ports would be forthcoming, in time for cruise ship season.

Duclos said the government has adjusted COVID-19 border measures because Canada has more tools to transition away from stiff restrictions.

"These tools include the strong surveillance system, a highly vaccinated population, continued access to vaccines, access to therapeutics both in and outside our hospital system and increasing access to rapid tests," Duclos said.

There were 5,801 new confirmed cases in and 110 deaths in Canada Monday, the latest data from the Public Health Agency of Canada shows.

Though case counts provide a limited picture of the spread of the virus because many jurisdictions have restricted the use of molecular tests, the latest figures still show a dramatic drop from the peak of the Omicron wave when new cases reached upwards of 54,000.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

1,245 COVID19 cases for Friday

1,245 COVID19 cases for Friday
Also, 93.4% (4,040,834) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose, 90.9% (3,930,793) received their second dose, and 54.3% (2,350,639) have received a third dose.

1,245 COVID19 cases for Friday

Dead male found in Langley identified as Sarbjeet Sander by IHIT

Dead male found in Langley identified as Sarbjeet Sander by IHIT
In order to further our investigation, IHIT is releasing the name of the vctim, who has been identified as 57-year-old Sarbjeet Sander. Based on information gathered thus far, there appears to be no link to the ongoing Lower Mainland gang conflict. This incident is believed to be isolated and not random.

Dead male found in Langley identified as Sarbjeet Sander by IHIT

COVID-19 border changes coming next week: minister

COVID-19 border changes coming next week: minister
Anyone travelling within Canada by plane, passenger train or boat must be vaccinated against COVID-19, and international travellers are subject to COVID-19 test requirements.

COVID-19 border changes coming next week: minister

Go home or face severe penalties: Trudeau

Go home or face severe penalties: Trudeau
Trudeau says the people still illegally blocking streets in Ottawa and border crossings to the United States must go home or face increasingly severe consequences that could ruin their lives.

Go home or face severe penalties: Trudeau

Ford declares state of emergency over protests

Ford declares state of emergency over protests
Ford said he will enact orders making it "crystal clear" that it is illegal and punishable to block and impede the movement of goods, people and services along critical infrastructure, including international border crossings, 400-series highways, airports, ports, bridges and railways.

Ford declares state of emergency over protests

Evacuations lifted years after B.C. slides

Evacuations lifted years after B.C. slides
A notice on the Peace River Regional District website says the orders covering several properties and sections of two roads near the community of Old Fort have been rescinded.

Evacuations lifted years after B.C. slides