For business flights and passengers from places like India and Pakistan traveling is a ban so as to decrease the spread of COVID variants. As Canada has observed a surge in the COVID-19 cases that involves new variants, so on April 22, the federal government has announced that they will introduce strict travel rules and restrictions to stop the potential spread and protect the people who are living in Canada.
Strict travel rules for passengers
The Strict travel rules and restrictions of Canada issued by the government include the banning of business flights and passengers who are from India and Pakistan will be starting for 30 days on April 22, 2021, at 11:30 p.m. However, the cargo flights that will be carrying COVID vaccines and other crucial equipment are allowed to land in Canada. According to the transport minister of Canada, those people who are from India or Pakistan and travel to Canada through indirect routes will be needed to have proof of negative COVID-19 from the last point of their departure.
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As per the federal government, in the last two weeks, there were about 35 flights with at least one COVID-19 case has arrived in Canada. Earlier, in December 2020, the international flights that were from the U.K. were also got banned for more than two weeks, after discovering the new COVID-19 variant. The COVID-19 new variant is called B.1.6.1.7. According to the chief public health officer of Canada, Dr. Howard Njoo, this new variant is not a variant of concern (VOC) but is a variant of interest. Some Vaccines are not very effective on this new variant.
Travel rules and restrictions that international travelers should know
In the current situation, before traveling to Canada either by air or by land, the international travelers will need to have proof of the COVID-19 test that should be taken within 72 hours. After landing in Canada, the travelers should then quarantine themselves in a government-approved hotel for about three days till their COVID report came. After getting the negative report, the travelers still continue to quarantine themselves for 14 days are racing their final location. After this quarantine period, the travelers are again required to again take a test of COVID-19.
What are the travel restrictions of Canada?
In March 2020, Canada had introduced new strict travel rules and restrictions to control the spread of the COVID-19 new variant. The travel restrictions have been in place since. All non-essential travel to Canada continues to be restricted.
The people who are free from travel restrictions and can enter Canada should be:
- Citizens of Canada
- Canada’s permanent residents
- Immediate or extended family members of the Canadian citizens and are permanent residents;
- The temporary foreign workers
- The international students who are studying in a designated learning institution that has a readiness plan for COVID-19
- People who are coming to Canada for genuine reasons like to be present during the final moments of their loved ones life
- Person wit protection
- People who are registered under Canada’s Indian Act
Canada’s battle with the third wave of Covid-19
Many provinces of Canada are facing an increase in COVID-19 cases, which results in stricter lockdown measures. In Ontario, there have been seen over 3,000 cases daily since early April 2021. Due to this, Ontario has implemented the order of stay-at-home order and has restrictions on the outside gatherings. For Quebec including most areas of the province the curfew of 8:00 p.m. or 9:30 p.m. has been imposed, British Columbia has also imposed a strict lockdown.
Canada is also focusing on transitioning temporary residents in Canada to permanent residents in the meantime. As per Canada’s commitment of reaching 401,00o new immigrants. These efforts include the Express Entry draws that were mainly for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and also six new immigration streams are also introduced by the Country. When the COVID-19 situation will get improved, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada will look forward to inviting skilled immigrants that are from overseas.
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