The Canadian federal government on Thursday announced that it will remove the COVID-19 testing requirements for pre-entry into the country for all fully vaccinated travelers, which removes a major roadblock to the free flow of people.
In a statement, Canadian Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said that the reason for the decision was the high vaccination rates and the stable COVID-19 case count. He noted that Ottawa was not comfortable enough to reduce restrictions on travelers who were planning to go to Canada, which will take effect starting next month.
Canada's Pre-Entry Tests
During a press conference, Duclos said that Canada was not entering a transition phase of the coronavirus pandemic. He said authorities were now ready to announce further changes to border measures.
The Canadian government has been facing pressure from frequent travelers, border towns, some medical professionals, the opposition Conservatives, airlines, and tourism operators. They have called for the removal of pre-entry testing, a process that has received criticism for being expensive and pointless at this stage of the health crisis, as per CBC.
However, authorities made the announcement alongside a warning that travel restrictions may need to be reimposed. Duclos said that, with the summertime coming up with rising temperatures, people are spending more time outside of their homes, which could result in a waning of collective and individual immunity.
The health minister added that authorities can still randomly select fully vaccinated travelers who will be required to get tested upon entry to Canada. However, he noted that they will no longer be required to quarantine while waiting for their results to come out.
According to CNN, on the other hand, travelers who are still unvaccinated or partially vaccinated and are eligible to travel to Canada are still required to take a COVID-19 molecular test on arrival and on day 8. They will also still be mandated to quarantine for 14 days after arrival to the country.
Removal of Restrictions
The pre-entry tests, which cost up to roughly $200 each, have long discouraged Canadians from traveling internationally and foreigners have been reluctant to go to the country. The tests have also added another layer of uncertainty for people who are already worried about getting a positive test before they are scheduled to travel.
Rep. Brian Higgins, a New York Democrat who represents a border district in Buffalo, praised Canada's decision. However, he argued in separate letters to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden that more easing of restrictions was needed.
Higgins called on the two leaders to remove COVID-19 vaccine requirements for all travelers at land ports of entry. The lawmaker said that the measure has significantly reduced cross-border travel and the flow of commerce.
In his letter, Higgins said that it was time to follow the science and remove existing restrictions at the U.S. and Canadian borders and allow Americans and Canadians to move freely between the two regions. All air travelers who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are required to be fully vaccinated to enter the U.S., Politico reported.
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