Feds to reinstate testing for foreign air travel, reviewing booster strategy in light of Omicron
CTV
Canada is reviewing its vaccine booster strategy, adding new countries to the list of nations subjected to federal travel restrictions, and is imposing new testing requirements on all air travellers coming from outside of Canada with the exception of the U.S., due to concerns over the Omicron variant.
Federal ministers and public health officials announced Tuesday this during an update on the latest measures Canada is taking in response to the variant of concern.
“All air travelers coming from outside Canada, apart from the United States, will now need to be tested at the airport in which they are landing in Canada whether they are vaccinated or unvaccinated. They will then need to isolate themselves until they get the result of their test,” said Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos.
Nigeria, Malawi and Egypt will join seven other African countries— South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini—that the federal government moved to restrict travellers from on Friday.
The policy bans the entry into Canada of all foreign nationals who travelled to these countries in the last 14 days.