(Ottawa) The Public Health Agency of Canada is “carefully monitoring” what is currently happening in China with COVID-19, but is not following suit in the United States, which will require that visitors arriving from China are tested for the virus before their flight.
According to the federal agency, any changes to the rules currently in effect will be made via a “Travel Health Notice”, which allows it to inform Canadian travelers of the health risks.
“Level 2” advisories are already in effect for all countries, including China, due to the pandemic, which means travelers should “take special health precautions when traveling abroad”.
The agency stresses that it may be more prudent to wear a mask, avoid activities conducive to virus transmission, or even postpone travel altogether if possible.
An additional notice, also of “level 2”, was also published on December 23 in anticipation of the Chinese New Year, the festivities of which will take place at the end of January. The event is likely to draw large crowds in China, which will increase the risk of spreading COVID-19 and other diseases, the notice read.
The note also recalls that “China has recently lifted many of its COVID-19 restrictions”, which could lead to a further increase in cases of the virus in the country.
In a statement, the Public Health Agency said it is monitoring genomic sequencing data and the impact of COVID-19 on public health in China.
The United States announced on Wednesday that it will impose new border restrictions on travelers arriving from China due to the upsurge in cases.
As of January 5, travelers from China will be required to take a COVID-19 test no later than 48 hours before their trip and provide a negative result before boarding the plane.
With information from The Associated Press