Canada extends COVID-19 border measures, including ArriveCan app

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OTTAWA — The federal authorities will lengthen present COVID-19 public well being measures for travellers getting into Canada, together with the usage of the ArriveCan app, till no less than Sept. 30.

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In a launch Wednesday, the Public Well being Company of Canada additionally mentioned it’ll proceed the pause of obligatory random testing for totally vaccinated travellers in any respect airports till mid-July.

It first introduced the pause on June 11 and mentioned within the launch that it’s permitting airports to deal with streamlining their operations.

The general public well being company mentioned it’s transferring ahead with plans to relocate COVID-19 testing for air travellers outdoors of airports to pick out take a look at supplier shops, pharmacies or by digital appointment.

Obligatory random testing is to proceed at land border factors of entry with no modifications.

The discharge added that travellers who should not totally vaccinated and don’t have a legitimate exemption should proceed to check on Day 1 and Day 8 of their 14-day quarantine.

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“As we transfer into the following section of our COVID-19 response, it is very important do not forget that the pandemic isn’t over. We should proceed to do all that we are able to to maintain ourselves and others secure from the virus,” mentioned Well being Minister Jean-Yves Duclos in a press release.

He additionally urged individuals to stay updated with the really helpful vaccinations to make sure they’re adequately protected in opposition to an infection, transmission and extreme problems.

“As now we have mentioned all alongside, Canada’s border measures will stay versatile and adaptable, guided by science and prudence.”

All travellers should proceed to make use of the ArriveCan app or web site to offer their journey data inside 72 hours earlier than their arrival in Canada or earlier than boarding a cruise ship destined for the nation. The federal government mentioned 95 per cent of land and air travellers are utilizing the app and it’s taking steps to boost compliance.

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The federal government additionally mentioned transferring testing outdoors of airports will permit Canada to regulate to elevated traveller volumes whereas nonetheless with the ability to monitor and shortly reply to new variants of concern or modifications to the epidemiological state of affairs.

It mentioned border testing has been important in serving to Canada sluggish the unfold of the virus, as information from the assessments are used to know the present stage and developments of importation of COVID-19 into the nation.

The testing program additionally permits for detection and identification of latest COVID-19 variants of concern, it mentioned.

Tourism teams and border-community mayors and MPs have known as on the federal government to ease restrictions and scrap the ArriveCan app, saying the measures are limiting cross-border journey.

Transport Minister Randy Boissonnault mentioned the federal government is deeply invested in rising Canada’s customer financial system.

“From our fame as a secure journey vacation spot to our world-class points of interest and wide-open areas, Canada has all of it and we’re able to welcome again home and worldwide vacationers, whereas prioritizing their security and well-being.”