Canada advised its citizens on Wednesday to avoid all non-essential international travel as the omicron variant spreads worldwide.
Jean-Yves Duclos, Canada’s health minister said that “We see the situation abroad, and we’re afraid and concerned with what could happen to Canadians who would choose to go abroad in the next few weeks”.
He also added that “the situation abroad is already dire in many places, and it’s going to get worse very quickly”.
Officials said that there is a chance of adding more restrictions in the coming days. Nevertheless, the US-Canada border remains open.
Travelers crossing US-Canada land borders don’t need to show a negative COVID19 test. However, the trip should be shorter than 72 hours and the traveler needs to be vaccinated.
Also, Canada has not closed its borders for both business and leisure foreign travelers, provided that they are vaccinated. Plus, they will have to show proof of negative COVID19 test upon entry.
The US, on the other hand, banned visitors from African countries after the discovery of the omicron variant. On top of that, the US updated its testing requirement for inbound travelers. Travelers will have to show a negative COVID19 test taken no more than a day before their departure to the US.
Canadian officials are not ruling out the possibility of stricter measures. The latest announcement will last for at least four weeks.
Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said that “We are constantly reassessing so when we feel we need to change our policies, we will announce it as quickly as possible, but for now, we are monitoring it and assessing it”.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said that “I know the rising threat Omicron poses is not something any of us want to be dealing with, especially now just before the holidays”.
Canada already ramped up its booster rollout. Officials announced that there are currently 16 million doses on hand. And according to federal ministries, this is enough to last for a few weeks.
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