Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
National

Vaccinated travellers won't need COVID-19 test to enter Canada as of April 1

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 17 Mar, 2022 10:18 AM
  • Vaccinated travellers won't need COVID-19 test to enter Canada as of April 1

OTTAWA - Vaccinated travellers will no longer need to show a COVID-19 test to enter Canada beginning April 1, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos officially announced Thursday.

The change is being made at the tail end of the Omicron wave in Canada, as new reported cases of COVID-19 have declined since mid-January.

Duclos said the change is possible because of Canada's high vaccination rates and fewer cases of the virus being detected at the border.

"Over the last few weeks we've seen a significant decrease in the rate of positivity of travellers entering into Canada," Duclos said at a briefing Thursday.

While the positivity rate at airports was about 10 per cent in January, it has since fallen to about one per cent, Duclos said.

Incoming tourists will still need to be vaccinated to visit Canada, and all inbound travellers must also upload their details to the ArriveCan app.

Duclos says vaccinated people could also still be subject to random molecular tests when they arrive at Canadian airports.

Unvaccinated Canadians and other travellers who are exempt from the vaccine mandate will still need to provide a negative rapid antigen or molecular test, or an accepted form of proof of recent infection to enter the country.

Unvaccinated travellers will also be tested on arrival, again eight days later, and will be required to quarantine for 14 days.

The World Health Organization says the number of cases internationally has begun to creep up in the Western Pacific region, Africa and Europe.

Several regions have blamed the rising cases on the prevalence of the more contagious BA.2 variant, a sub-mutation of the Omicron variant which has been given the moniker "stealth Omicron."

BA.2 makes up about 22 per cent of known cases in Canada as of Feb. 20.

Despite the concerning signs abroad, Duclos said he believes Canada's high rate of fully vaccinated people, at 80.85 per cent, will protect the country from serious outcomes.

"I think that we will do very well in the next weeks and months," Duclos said in French at the briefing.

COVID-19 measures at the border are still evolving, he said, and will be adjusted if necessary. Duclos did not say what kind of circumstances might trigger the need for more stringent testing again.

The change has already been met with celebration from Canadian tourist groups like the Canadian Travel and Tourism Roundtable.

"Canada's tourism sector is ready to ensure the safety of travellers, employers and the communities in which they operate. They are ready to welcome back the world," said Tourism Minister Randy Boissonnault of the policy change.

The change will not apply to cruise ships, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said.

Rather, passengers will need to take a test no more than one day before they board, but they will not need to take a test in order to get off the ship.

MORE National ARTICLES

Canada, India to relaunch CEPA trade talks: Ng

Canada, India to relaunch CEPA trade talks: Ng
Following meetings in New Delhi with her Indian counterpart, Shri Piyush Goyal, Ng says the two countries will pursue an "early progress" agreement as an initial step.

Canada, India to relaunch CEPA trade talks: Ng

Canada adds 337,000 jobs in February: StatCan

Canada adds 337,000 jobs in February: StatCan
A gain of 337,000 jobs in February more than offset the loss of 200,000 jobs in January and dropped the unemployment rate to 5.5 per cent, falling below the 5.7 per cent level where it was at in February 2020.    

Canada adds 337,000 jobs in February: StatCan

Some colleges, universities to keep masking

Some colleges, universities to keep masking
The schools are opting for a more cautious approach to COVID-19, citing concerns about potential outbreaks, while provinces – including British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario – have pointed to promising public health indicators such as test positivity rates and hospitalizations as reasons for lifting mask mandates.

Some colleges, universities to keep masking

Illicit drug deaths in B.C. climbed in January

Illicit drug deaths in B.C. climbed in January
The coroner's service says illicit drugs caused 19 deaths in Northern Health, equal to a death rate of 74.5 per 100,000 residents, by far the highest rate of any health authority.

Illicit drug deaths in B.C. climbed in January

Man Shot in Guildford residence

Man Shot in Guildford residence
On March 10th, 2022 at 11:30 PM., Surrey RCMP received a report of shots fired in the area of 14100 and 104th Avenue. Frontline officers attended the area and located a male suffering from an apparent gun-shot wound.    

Man Shot in Guildford residence

B.C. Mountie charged with obstructing justice

B.C. Mountie charged with obstructing justice
The B.C. prosecution service says the officer in Kelowna was an investigator in the case. It says Const. Sean Eckland is due to appear in Kelowna provincial court on April 4.

B.C. Mountie charged with obstructing justice