A simple setback or a lasting return of health limitations? After easing health measures around the world, Canada is pushing back. On July 19, the government reinstated random Covid-19 screening tests at four of the country’s largest airports – Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Toronto – upon arrival of international flights.
This measure applies to fully vaccinated passengers, and unvaccinated passengers are already subject to testing and quarantine. Testing is done outside of airports during an in-person appointment at a pharmacy or store, or during virtual self-assessment test appointments.
Travelers are notified by email
Travelers selected for random testing receive an email within 15 minutes of submitting their customs declaration. The email provides them with information to schedule an appointment with a testing provider in their area. If the random test result is positive, travelers must self-isolate for 10 days from the date of receiving the result.
As a reminder, passengers who have received at least two doses of the vaccine (or one dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine) are considered vaccinated. Travelers who have recovered from Covid and received only one dose are not considered vaccinated. In addition, all travelers must continue to log in to the ArriveCAN government website or app within 72 hours of their arrival in Canada or prior to boarding a cruise ship at their destination from Canada.
The authorities did not specify when this measure should come into force. But despite this resurgence of random testing in Canada, health restrictions around the world remain largely flexible. Only rare destinations like China and Japan keep their borders closed to tourists. Check out our interactive map for details of the restrictions still in place in key destinations.
Source: Le Figaro
