Canada eases quarantine restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers
Posted July 5, 2021 6:00 am.
Last Updated July 5, 2021 11:49 am.
It’s now a little easier for fully-vaccinated Canadians to travel internationally.
Rules requiring a two-week quarantine, and a stay in a government-approved hotel were dropped on Monday at midnight.
As of July 5 at 12:01 a.m. EDT, fully vaccinated travellers who are permitted to enter Canada will no longer be required to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival – provided they show the results of a negative COVID-19 test that is less than three days old.
In addition, eligible travellers will no longer need to complete a day-8 test and those arriving by air will not have to wait three days in a hotel for a test result.
The changes to the rules only apply for travellers who were previously eligible to enter the country. Anyone who could not travel to Canada before July 5 remains ineligible and there are no changes to travel restrictions for non-fully vaccinated travellers.
“I think we can expect, certainly in the early days, individuals believing that, you know, July 5 is here, Canada is now open for tourism, recreation and things of that nature. That is not the case,” said Denis Vinette, Canada Border Services Agency vice-president, travellers branch.
“We’ve prepared our front-line staff, who’ve been having to deal with this since the onset, for those types of scenarios.”
Who can travel to Canada?
- Canadian citizens
- Permanent residents
- Persons registered under the Indian Act
- Foreign nationals who are eligible for entry under the following Orders in Council: Prohibition of Entry into Canada from the United States; Prohibition of Entry into Canada from any Country other than the United States
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To qualify as fully vaccinated a person must have received their final dose of a Health Canada approved vaccine at least 14 days prior to crossing the border. The approved vaccines include Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca.
Travellers must use the ArriveCAN app or web portal prior to departure to log their vaccination details before arriving at the border. A new version of the app was released on Monday and the latest version must be used.
People will need to retain a copy of their vaccination documentation (either paper or electronic) to be verified at the border.
The ArriveCAN portal can be accessed either via the Apple or Android app or online via the federal government’s website at canada.ca.
Mutual travel restrictions between Canada and the United States are set to expire on July 21. The current restrictions bar all non-essential travel with exemptions for trade, essential workers and international students.
Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi is reporting that the Toronto Blue Jays are awaiting a response from the federal government on a proposal that would bring them back to Rogers Centre for home games beginning on July 30.
The team submitted their own application for a return home to the federal government in recent weeks, according to an industry source, a proposal that’s already received municipal and provincial approval.
With files from the Canadian Press
