Ottawa announced Tuesday a series of border relaxations that will take effect on February 28, including the end of the mandatory quarantine following a screening test carried out at the airport upon return to the country.
• Read also: COVID-19: Quebec records 56 new deaths
• Read also: Towards a relaxation of the vaccine passport?
Random testing upon return to Canada will remain in place, as was the case before the arrival of the Omicron variant, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos announced on Tuesday.
Children under 12 who are not fully vaccinated will no longer have to go into isolation upon their return. They will be able to resume their activities as soon as they arrive in Canada.
“These changes are possible not only because we crossed the peak of the Omicron variant, but also because Canadians across the country listened to science and experts, followed public health measures and took precautions in view. to protect themselves and their families and their communities,” said Mr. Duclos.
Screenshot, TVA Nouvelles
Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos
Unvaccinated people will have to take their troubles patiently: they will still have to take a screening test and isolate themselves for two weeks.
Another change: Canada will accept rapid tests as tests to be carried out in the country of origin before returning to the country. Only PCR tests were accepted so far.
“For the antigen test for COVID-19 to be valid, it must be authorized by the country in which it was purchased and must have been carried out by a laboratory, a health care entity or a telehealth service”, explained Mr. Duclos.
More details will follow…
