Menu

border restrictions

new-rapid-antigen-test

No More Pre-Entry COVID Tests For Children At Border

, , , , ,

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is easing some COVID-19 border restrictions early next week.

Beginning April 25th at 1:00 a.m. Eastern, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children between the ages of five and 11, who are accompanied by a fully vaccinated parent or guardian, will not have to complete a pre-entry rapid antigen test (RAT) or a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to enter Canada.

Pre-entry tests will still be required for partially vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers aged 12 and older.

Fully vaccinated Canadians will also not be required to wear a mask while in public spaces for the 14 days following their return.

Instead, they will need to monitor and report if they develop signs or symptoms of COVID-19.

hajdu-july20-2021

Hajdu Defends Upcoming Border Measures

, , , , ,

The federal Health Minister is taking what she calls a prudent approach to relaxing border restrictions for U.S. citizens.

Fully-vaccinated U.S. travellers will be able to cross starting August 9th, but will still require proof of a negative COVID-19 test.

Patty Hajdu indicates the government is keeping a close eye on the evolution of the virus in the U.S. and other countries.

“We know that variants continue to arise, and that if the virus presents us with an even more dangerous variant that’s vaccine-avoidant, we may have to make changes at the border as well,” Hajdu points out.

Hajdu expects that the two-week partial quarantine period for U.S. citizens under age 12 will stay in place for now.

Children can cross with a fully-vaccinated adult, but will be required to avoid places like camps, daycares and schools after they arrive.

“Given that there isn’t a way to protect those children through the use of vaccination, those rules will stay in place, and when our public health advisors suggest that we need to look at different approaches, we’ll do that,” she notes.

Hajdu also maintains that the government is trying to make this process as efficient as possible, despite some tourism outfitters saying the restrictions are difficult to deal with.

“That will make things much more efficient at the border, and that would include things like the pre-[departure] test and their proof of vaccination,” Hajdu says. “Those rules are in place for a reason. We want to make sure that people are complying with the kind of screening mechanisms that will ensure the safety of Canadians.”

The border rules will relax for citizens of other nations starting September 9th.

Pigeon-River-border-crossing

Families Can Reunite With Border Changes

, , , , , ,

Some relaxing of border restrictions by the Canadian government is making it easier for family members, who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents, to see loved ones, who they haven’t been able to, ever since the border with the United States was closed due to COVID-19.

On Friday, Health Minister Patty Hajdu, Citizenship Minister Marco Mendicino and Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said this means, as of October 8th, adults, children, grandchildren or grandparents, siblings, or those dating in a committed relationship for over a year, will be able to cross, with proper documentation.

An exception has also been granted to people who aren’t Canadians to visit someone who is critically ill, dying or for funerals. Patty Hajdu adds arrangements will be made with provincial governments and local health authorities to end the 14 day quarantine rule to visit anyone nearing the end of a life, or funerals.

As of October 20th, international students will be able to enter Canada, provided the school they are going to has a proven plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The government says this is being done due to the outcry from many people who’ve not been able to see family. The Health Minister says this needs to be done, while adding at the same time the disease is not going away anytime soon. The government is keeping all other restrictions in place, including shut down of the border until October 21st to non-essential travellers, and restrictions on travellers from other countries remain until October 31st.

In anticipation of the influx of people, the government is adding more public health safety officers who will monitor, and stay in touch with people who are supposed to be in quarantine. And to ensure all health safety measures are being followed, there could be fines and jail time for anyone who doesn’t follow rules if asked to.

More details of this plan will be on the government webpage next week.

The opposition Conservatives, while applauding the plan, say this should have been done much sooner.