Given the latest data showing that the Omicron COVID-19 variant has passed its peak in Canada, its government announced plans to begin easing border measures starting February 28, 2022. “It is now time to move towards a more sustainable approach to long-term management of COVID-19,” the Public Health Agency of Canada said in a press statement on Tuesday.
Beginning at 12:01 a.m. ET on February 28, on-arrival testing for fully vaccinated travelers will be eased (although random travelers will continue to be selected for testing; however, they will no longer be require to quarantine while awaiting their test result). Children under 12 years old will continue to be exempt from quarantine, so long as they are traveling with a fully vaccinated adult. Unvaccinated travelers will continue to be required to test upon arrival, on Day 8 and quarantine for 14 days. Further, unvaccinated foreign nationals will not be permitted to enter Canada unless they meet one of the few exemptions.
Travelers also now have the option of using a rapid antigen test result (taken the day prior to their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or marine port of entry) or a molecular test result (taken no more than 72 hours before their scheduled flight or arrival at the land border or marine port of entry) to meet pre-entry requirements. Note: Taking a rapid antigen test at home is not sufficient to meet the pre-entry requirement; it must be authorized by the country in which it was purchased and must be administered by a laboratory, healthcare entity or telehealth service.
In addition, the Government of Canada will adjust its Travel Health Notice from a Level 3 to a Level 2. This means that the government will no longer recommend that Canadians avoid travel for non-essential purposes.
On February 28, at 4 p.m. ET, Transport Canada’s “Notice to Airmen” (NOTAM) that restricts where international passenger flights can arrive in Canada will expire. This means that international flights carrying passengers will be permitted to land at all remaining Canadian airports that are designated by the Canada Border Services Agency to receive international passenger flights.
For more information, visit travel.gc.ca.
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