Daily COVID19 cases are currently under control in different provinces in Canada, but officials fear a third wave is brewing on the horizon. With the COVID19 UK variant being more contagious, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced new travel restrictions are in place by February 15 and February 22.
By Feb 15, travelers crossing the US-Canada border from the US are required to show a negative PCR test. The test should be taken in the US in the last 3 days. If not, they should show proof of a positive result 14-90 days before they arrive in the country. This is enough time for the virus to no longer be contagious.
Costly Travel Restriction
And on February 22, air travelers will have to take multiple PCR tests and self-quarantine in an approved hotel before they can enter the country. However, the traveler will have to pay for everything, according to Trudeau. Travelers will have to pay an estimated $2,000 to complete all the quarantine and testing requirements. Those who received a positive test result will have to finish the quarantine in government facilities.
Officials hope that the new travel restrictions will lessen local transmissions and discourage Canadians from going out of the country.
Almost Half are Unmonitored
There is a loophole in Canada’s new travel restriction. Since March 21, 2020, 4.6 million truck drivers crossed the Canadian border. Since truck drivers are considered essential employees, they are exempted from quarantine and tests. They only have to follow protocols including mask-wearing and social distancing while answering health questions when entering the border.
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair announced on Sunday that they are looking at the possibility of testing essential workers who cross the border. He announced that they are looking at “implementing a system of regular testing” that will ensure that essential workers are not going to be the source of new infections.
For infectious disease specialist Dr. Jeff Kwong, it is important for the government to take the necessary steps now. He said that “it only takes a handful of truckers to be infected”. Kwong recommends the introduction of rapid tests for essential workers. Though rapid tests are less accurate, the results are available in just a few minutes.