Have holiday travel plans? Know the COVID-19 situation where you're going: Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang
CBC
The holiday season has historically been one of the busiest travel times in the year, but last year many were homebound due to lockdown restrictions and rising COVID-19 cases.
This year, however, with more than 75 per cent of residents in Waterloo region vaccinated, people may be more willing to travel.
Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, the medical officer of health for the Region of Waterloo, says she strongly recommends anyone who plans to travel should be fully immunized — and that includes a third dose if they are eligible.
As well, Wang said people should be aware of the COVID-19 situation in the place where they are travelling. Parts of Eastern Canada, like Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, for example, are taking more precautions when it comes to allowing children to travel out of province for sports — and P.E.I. has increased testing requirements for international travellers.
Canada, too, will require air travellers from all countries except the United States to be tested for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status.
And people should keep in mind that travel restrictions can change suddenly as case rates do, Wang said.
But the best thing people can do, Wang said, is keep to up with personal precautions: wear a mask, maintain physical distance and ensure any indoor gatherings are in well-ventilated areas.
The idea is to "layer on additional protections in addition to their vaccine series wherever they're going," Wang said.
The federal government currently advises people to "exercise extra caution" if they plan to travel internationally, the travel advisory website says.
When people consider international travel, it's important to remember each country has its own set of rules, says travel journalist Jennifer Weatherhead Harrington.
"Switzerland right now, for example, only requires proof of vaccination. They don't need to have a negative test. You just upload your vaccination onto an app, whereas Portugal does require a negative COVID test before you enter the country," the founder of Travel and Style Magazine said in an interview on CBC Kitchener-Waterloo's The Morning Edition.
She suggested people may want to use a travel agent to help them navigate the rules and also help them if things change before their trip.
Weatherhead Harrington said she also wouldn't be surprised to see people cancel or postpone trips until more is known about the omicron variant.
"We're a cautious bunch when it comes to travel," she said.
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