Despite an infection rate on planes still much higher than in December, the federal government will no longer require a second COVID-19 screening test upon arrival of all travelers from the end of February. An antigen test dating back less than 24 hours will also be sufficient to board.
“The changes are possible because we made the right choices as Canadians and we crossed the peak of Omicron,” said Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos on Tuesday.
Fully vaccinated travelers will be able to return to Canada with only a locally approved rapid antigen test performed less than a day before their return.
The majority of them will no longer have to take further screening tests, or go into quarantine, nor will the children who accompany them. While some travelers may still be randomly selected to take a PCR test upon arrival, they are no longer required to self-isolate while awaiting the result.
The latest available data, which is from the last week of January, shows that around 5% of tests carried out at the airport came back positive, although air passengers must be adequately vaccinated and take a first PCR test before the start. departure. This rate is much higher than in mid-December, when only a fraction of 1% of tests came back positive.
“We must continue to be very vigilant in general, and at the border in particular. What we’re seeing is that those positivity rates are dropping. […] We are already in mid-February, and we believe that within the next two weeks, even if it takes a little time before we have the precise figures, the situation will continue to improve, “explained The Minister.
Until now, the second PCR test required on arrival was justified by the government to slow down the arrival of variants in Canada. It was required for all vaccinated travelers arriving in Canada, except those from the United States, since December 1, 2021. The measure has, however, been very difficult to implement, due to a lack of tests.
No changes were announced Tuesday for unvaccinated Canadians wishing to travel. Vaccination against COVID-19 is mandatory to board an aircraft, and unvaccinated travelers who present themselves at borders must still undergo quarantine and a series of screening tests.