Ottawa: From today, travellers entering Canada will no longer need to furnish proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or subject to random mandatory tests for the virus as government of Canada has lifted the restrictions from October 1.
The travellers need not to wear a face masks in planes, although is still being recommended by the health officials for the protection at crowded places.
Experts said that after relaxation in the Covid-19 related norms, it will promote tourism and make it easier for tourists going to Canada than ever before.
Canada ended COVID-19 restrictions including vaccination and masking requirements for flights and trains along with the requirement of masks.
The government’s move would boost the Canadian travel industry. The tourism sector of all the countries of the world was ruined after restrictions were imposed. But now once again the tourism industry is likely to come on track and tourists are coming out of their homes.
Air Canada also welcomed the government’s move. It has been said by the airline that crew and customers can still wear masks but it is not mandatory anymore.
The government officials said that the removal of border measures has been facilitated by a number of factors, including modelling that indicates that Canada has largely passed the peak of the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 fuelled wave, Canada’s high vaccination rates, lower hospitalization and death rates, as well as the availability and use of vaccine boosters (including new bivalent formulation), rapid tests, and treatments for COVID-19.
Meanwhile, travellers don’t have to fill out the contentious ArriveCan app anymore.