With COVID-19 restrictions on the border that will remain in place for at least another month, some Canadians may need an introduction to what these rules are.
The Public Health Agency of Canada has announced that several pandemic restrictions will be extended to Canadian airports and land borders, including vaccine warrants, random testing of COVID-19 and the mandatory use of the ArriveCan application, at least Until 30 June.
While few Canadians may still be anxious to travel, some are ready to take a vacation after more than two years in a pandemic. CTVNews.ca details what rules travelers must keep in mind when planning their trips before leaving.
PREVIOUS TEST NO LONGER NEEDED
As of April 1, fully vaccinated travelers will no longer have to provide a negative COVID-19 test result prior to entry to enter Canada by air, land or water.
Passengers may still be subjected to mandatory and random PCR testing at the airport, in part to monitor new emerging variants of COVID-19, although they will not have to isolate themselves while awaiting their results.
From April 25, children ages five to 11 traveling with a fully vaccinated parent or guardian will no longer have to complete a COVID-19 test before entering Canada, regardless of whether the child is not vaccinated. . Children under the age of five will also not be required to complete a pre-entry COVID-19 test and are exempt from vaccination requirements.
APP ARRIVECAN
All travelers arriving in Canada, regardless of citizenship or immunization status, must still use the ArriveCAN app to submit their health information before arriving in Canada. Passengers must send their information to ArriveCAN within 72 hours prior to arrival at the port of entry.
Passengers arriving without completing their ArriveCAN presentation may need to be tested on arrival and on the eighth day of their 14-day quarantine, regardless of their vaccination status. Foreigners may also be denied entry if they have not completed the ArriveCAN submission.
Anyone who fails to submit their information and vaccination test using ArriveCAN could be fined $ 5,000.
While travelers still need to use the ArriveCAN app, the federal government has abandoned its requirement for those entering the country to monitor and report any symptoms of COVID-19 they experience. Those traveling from abroad will also not have to keep a list of close contacts and places visited during the first 14 days after their arrival in Canada.
THE VACCINATION TEST IS STILL NEEDED
Despite the lifting of pre-entry testing requirements, the requirement to be fully vaccinated with a government-approved COVID-19 vaccine in order to board federally regulated air, rail, and sea transportation remains in place.
Pre-entry testing requirements have not changed for partially vaccinated or unvaccinated travelers currently licensed to travel to Canada.
Unless otherwise exempted, all travelers 12 years of age or older who do not meet the requirements to be fully vaccinated, who have received at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine accepted for travel or a combination of two vaccines, must continue to provide proof of a previous negative vaccine. result of the entrance COVID-19 test.
Accepted pre-entry tests include a negative rapid antigen test administered by the healthcare professional no more than one day before arriving at a port of entry, or a negative molecular test performed no more than 72 hours before a scheduled flight or crossing a land border. .
Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated travelers may also submit a positive molecular test performed at least 10 days and no more than 180 days prior to the scheduled flight departure time or arrival at the land border to enter Canada. Positive antigen test results are not accepted.
The government recommends completing a series of COVID-19 vaccines, along with any additional recommended dose in Canada, at least 14 days before traveling abroad. For those who have to travel, the government suggests delaying the plans until they are fully vaccinated.
MASK DURING THE TRIP AND AFTER ARRIVAL
Adults and children five years of age or older who are fully vaccinated are no longer expected to wear masks in public spaces for 14 days after arrival in Canada. However, children between the ages of five and 11 who are not vaccinated or partially vaccinated should continue to wear masks in public settings, such as school, for 14 days after entering Canada.
All travelers are also required to wear a mask while traveling on federally regulated modes of transportation, such as a plane or train, regardless of whether they are vaccinated.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE
Before traveling, the government recommends checking for COVID-19 testing and vaccination requirements, as well as other entry requirements, at your destination, as they may differ from Canadian standards.
The Canadian government also advises travelers to monitor the condition of COVID-19 at its destination during the days before the trip if the status of COVID-19 infections and public health requirements change.
CRUISES
Cruise passengers aged five and over must take a COVID-19 antigen or molecular test to board a ship no more than one day before their scheduled departure, but will not be required to do so. to take the test before getting off the boat.
All other requirements for cruises, including the submission of vaccination evidence prior to embarkation, remain in effect.
The government continues to warn travelers that the virus can easily spread to nearby people, such as cruise ships. The government says the chance of getting COVID-19 infected on cruise ships is still “very high”, even for those who are fully vaccinated.