The federal government announced today that air travelers coming to Canada will have to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test before arrival.
What it means for travelers planning to come to Canada is that they must receive a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test within a 72-hour period prior to boarding a plane. The PCR test is considered the gold standard of COVID-19 tests. These tests need to be processed in a lab and usually take at least a day to provide results.
The new rules are expected to come into effect in the next few days although the exact date has not been given.
The federal government’s mandatory 14-day quarantine period will still remain in effect, adding an extra layer of protection to public health.
The Canada Border Services Agency is reported to be also increasing its presence at airports across Canada.
The federal government has advised against non-essential travel outside Canada since the start of the pandemic, though officials noted Wednesday that about two per cent of COVID-19 cases have been brought into the country from overseas.
The announcement of necessary negative tests for travelers follows criticism that federal travel restrictions have been too lenient. It also coincides with a typically busy travel season at a time the cases of COVID-19 are rising.
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