Canada’s health agency will end all border health restrictions against the spread of COVID-19, including mandatory vaccination upon entry into Canada, as of Saturday, October 1.
“We believe we are now in a position to change our approach at international borders,” said Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, on Monday, September 26, indicating that “the health situation has greatly improved.
Travellers will no longer be required to undergo screening, quarantine or isolation. Until now, people over 12 years of age were required to be vaccinated to enter Canada or to undergo pre-entry screening, arrival testing and 14-day quarantine.
Random testing was also still in place for those who were vaccinated. In addition, Canada mandated the wearing of masks on planes and trains. According to the Canadian government, transmission of the virus is mainly within the country. However, wearing a mask is still recommended to prevent the spread of the virus.
“Imports of Covid cases and its variants no longer significantly influence the evolution of the pandemic in the country,” said Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos.
“The focus must be on up-to-date vaccination (…) this is where we must invest”, said Mr. Duclos, adding that the COVID-19 “is still there”. About 90% of the population aged 12 and over have received two doses of vaccine, and half have also received a booster, according to government figures.
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