Canada Removing COVID-19 Border and Travel Measures For October 1

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The federal government is removing COVID-19 entry restrictions to anyone entering Canada beginning on Oct. 1, announced on Monday.

File Photo.

Any testing, quarantine and isolation requirements for anyone entering Canada are being scrapped.

“We have reached the point where we can safely lift the sanitary measures at the border,” said Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos,
minister of health. “However, we expect COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses will continue to circulate over the cold months so I encourage everyone to stay up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccination including booster doses and exercise individual public health measures.”

The government’s decision to lift restrictions was due to several factors including indications of Canada largely passed the peak of the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 wave, Canada’s high vaccination rates, lower hospitalization and death rates, high availability and use of vaccine boosters, rapid tests and treatments for COVID-19.

“Canada’s travel measures successfully mitigated the full impact of COVID-19 for travellers and workers in the transportation sector, and helped keep communities safe,” said Hon. Omar Alghabra,
minister of transport.

“Since the start, our Government has taken the necessary steps to keep Canadians safe in the face of a global pandemic,” said Hon. Marco Mendicino, minister of public safety. “COVID-19 border measures were always meant to be temporary and we are making adjustments based on the current situation because that’s what Canadians expect.”

Starting on Oct. 1, all travellers, regardless of citizenship, will no longer have to:

  • submit public health information through the ArriveCAN app or website;

  • provide proof of vaccination;

  • undergo pre- or on-arrival testing;

  • carry out COVID-19-related quarantine or isolation;

  • monitor and report if they develop signs or symptoms of COVID-19 upon arriving in Canada.

Transport Canada is also removing existing travel requirements for the date mentioned above as travellers will no longer be required to:

  • undergo health checks for travel on air and rail; or

  • wear masks on planes and trains.

Anyone who entered Canada two weeks prior to Oct. 1 is not required to complete the remainder of their quarantine or isolation or complete their testing requirements.

Despite the lifted masking requirement, The Government of Canada strongly recommended that all travellers wear high-quality and well-fitted masks while travelling.

Cruise measures are also being lifted, and travellers will no longer be required to have pre-board tests, be vaccinated or use ArriveCAN. A set of guidelines will remain to protect passengers and crew, which will align with the approach used in the United States.

The federal government urges anyone to not travel if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. If you become sick while travelling and are still sick prior to arrival, inform a flight attendant, cruise staff or a border services officer when entering Canada. A quarantine officer could be referred to and decides whether the traveller needs further medical assessment as COVID-19 remains one of many communicable diseases listed in the Quarantine Act.

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David Tuan Bui