Requiring travelers returning from China to present a negative COVID-19 test will not prevent new variants from spreading, an expert has pointed out.
Kerry Bowman, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto’s Temerty School of Medicine, called the requirement “an absolutely political and not science-based decision at this point.”
“These are not the first days of the pandemic,” he said. So I think a lot of it is political.”
The federal government announced on Saturday that travelers from the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong or Macao should test negative for COVID-19 starting Jan. 5.
All passengers aged 2 and over returning from these three locations are affected by this temporary measure.
China’s lifting of its “zero COVID” policy has resulted in a significant jump in cases across that country, although not much is known about the different variants of Omicron currently in circulation, explained the Dr.r Bowman, who teaches bioethics.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea, and I don’t think it makes us any safer. At first glance, it appears that governments are being proactive and responsive and protecting their citizens, he said. But it’s pretty clear that point-of-entry screening is not effective at all. Often people can test positive days and weeks later.”
The Dr Isaac Bogoch, an associate professor at the University of Toronto’s Temerty School of Medicine, said the goals of the requirement remain unclear, and such measures have not helped.
“We know from the past that highly targeted travel measures like this do little to prevent the spread of COVID, either through its arrival in Canada or through the threat of variants developing in the territory. “, he specified.
The Dr Bogoch added that if China had been transparent with its data, variants, vaccines and spread of COVID-19, that would have helped the situation.
“Let’s not pretend, however, that forcing travelers from China to undergo a negative PCR test before coming to Canada will have an impact on the Canadian virological situation,” he argued.
According to him, research has shown that the virus spreads through human mobility, and that the next variant may even emerge elsewhere than in China. Even if it did, it could land in Canada through other indirect routes.
Test sewage
A more effective measure, said the Dr Bowman, would test sewage from planes and airports to check for viral load and mutations. Vancouver International Airport also announced on Saturday that it would expand its wastewater testing pilot program.
One of the variants, XBB. 1.5, which is causing concern with its rapid spread, is already in North America, the professor said.
“In the years to come, when this story is told, when we have some objectivity […] globally, we’re going to see that we did a lot of things that were more political than evidence-based,” he added.
The Pr Bogoch said the virus that causes COVID-19 continues to mutate, but most people in Canada have some form of immunity through a combination of vaccines and previous infections.
He added that an increase in sequencing data would help identify and understand emerging variants all over the world. According to him, people, especially the elderly and those with other health conditions, should get a booster dose to stay safe. Wearing a mask indoors can also reduce the likelihood of infection.
“If we look at the short term, we will see COVID-19 cases rise and fall in the community, just as we have seen over the past two years,” concluded the P.r Bogoch, adding that he hopes future waves of COVID-19 will have less and less of an impact over time.