Canada temporarily dropping 3rd-country COVID-19 testing for South Africa travellers
Global News
From Dec. 14 to Jan. 7, 2022, all indirect flights from South Africa to Canada will no longer have to provide a negative COVID-19 test from a third country.
Canada is providing a temporary exemption to its third-country COVID-19 testing rule for travellers leaving South Africa after receiving criticism for the policy.
From Dec. 14 to Jan. 7, 2022, all travellers on indirect flights from South Africa to Canada will no longer have to provide a negative COVID-19 test from a third country, according to the Canadian government’s website.
Instead, travellers can use a test from an accredited laboratory within South Africa if it is done at least 48 hours before departure. A positive test result can also be used if it was obtained at least 14 days, and no more than 180 days, before departing.
Travellers’ flights must also depart within 18 hours from the country of transit, according to the government.
Previously, those travelling from South Africa had to obtain a pre-departure negative COVID-19 molecular test in a third country, regardless of vaccination status.
The requirement also applies to nine other African countries but there is no indication the exemption will apply to them if travellers have been in those countries 14 days before heading to Canada.
The countries include Botswana, Egypt, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
Global News reached out to Health Canada to see if the exemption will be extended to those countries but did not hear back by publication time.