Vaccinated travelers will no longer be required to present a negative COVID-19 screening test to enter Canada, as of April 1, the federal government announced Thursday, to the delight of the tourism industry.
The exemption will apply to “fully immunized” travellers, meaning those who have received two doses of a vaccine licensed in Canada.
These travelers could, however, be selected for a mandatory screening test upon arrival, as is currently the case. However, they will not be required to quarantine while awaiting the results.
“Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travelers will continue to be molecularly tested for COVID-19 upon arrival, on day 8 and while completing their 14-day quarantine,” noted the Minister of Health. Health, Jean-Yves Duclos, during a virtual press conference.
Thursday’s announcement is a breath of fresh air for the tourism industry, which is “very affected” by the consequences of the pandemic, underlined in broad strokes the Minister of Tourism, Randy Boissonnault.
“The time has finally come,” he rejoiced.
It will be easier for travelers to come and visit Canada “and they will come”, insisted Mr. Boissonnault, stressing that the high rate of vaccination and the fact that the country takes COVID-19 seriously are attractive for visitors. .
“Our goal is to prepare ourselves, to set the table for the next summer season, the season of festivals and family vacations,” said the Minister.
What did public health recommend?
Minister Duclos explained that these requirements, including not expanding the definition of fully vaccinated to three doses of a vaccine, are “based on the advice of public health officials.”
“Two doses is much better than zero doses,” he said. Two doses continue to protect well. It’s not great like it was with the Delta variant, but it’s still good. »
When questioned as to whether this was indeed a recommendation, Dr. Howard Njoo, Deputy Public Health Officer, replied that mandatory vaccination continues to be a “key tool” and explained that the The interval between doses is also important.
“We are now talking more about being up to date with the vaccination instead of being divided on a number of doses of vaccines”, he explained, without however specifying if the federal public health recommended the current formula to two doses or another calculation formula.
The ArriveCAN app continues to be used and all travelers must provide the requested information, either online or through the mobile app.
As the World Health Organization observes an increase in cases in Europe and experts believe a sixth wave is on the horizon, Minister Duclos warned that “all measures can be revised” and that “nothing won’t be won”.
He said, however, that the vaccination rate in the country suggests that “it should be going pretty well in the next few weeks and in the next few months”.
Mr. Duclos had announced at the end of February that travelers arriving in Canada could present a negative rapid antigen test at the border, as an alternative to molecular testing (PCR), which is more expensive and takes longer.