“The time has come,” Emil Kamel said at Toronto Pearson Airport on Friday en route to Egypt. “Finding a PCR test in a foreign country can be quite expensive and inconvenient,” he said. “We appreciate that we can go home and not worry about these things.” However, the pandemic is not over and there are other things travelers may have to worry about, such as testing requirements for entry to other countries and the threat of another COVID-19 wave. See what you need to keep in mind when planning your vacation. Traveler Emil Kamel says he is happy he will not have to take the COVID-19 test when he returns from Egypt .. (Mark Bochsler / CBC)
Some rules remain
Vaccinated travelers may not be completely unprepared for the test requirement if traveling with unvaccinated children. This because unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals over four years still has to show proof negative antigen or molecular test to enter Canada. And all travelers – vaccinated or not – must submit their travel information using it ArriveCAN application or by registering online within 72 hours prior to your arrival in Canada. Although they no longer have to worry about having a pre-screening, vaccinated travelers may be randomly selected to take a COVID-19 test upon arrival. “The good news for those who are randomly selected is that there is no need to quarantine while you wait for your results,” said Daryl Dalton, who heads operations at Pearson Airport with Canada Border Services. The bad news is that those who are positive must comply with federal rules and isolation for 10 days – even if they are in a province that has reduced its isolation period to five days for people infected with COVID-19.
Some countries still want a test
Vaccinated Canadians will still have to book – and pay for – a COVID-19 test if they are visiting a country required for entry.
Popular destinations such as Mexico, the Dominican Republic and the UK do not have COVID-19 entry restrictions for Canadians, but many other hotspots, such as Jamaica and the United States (when traveling by air) require proof of negative antigen or molecular test.
“I urge travelers to do their due diligence and research the location they are going to, to see what the requirements are,” Dalton said.
Seema Shirali of Markham, OD, says she is surprised the United States has not rejected the COVID-19 test requirement for travelers. (Submitted by Seema Shirali)
Seema Shirali from Markham, Ont., Has a daughter in New York. She says she is disappointed – and surprised – that the United States did not follow Canada’s example and rejected the requirement of pre-arrival international air passenger testing.
“Canada has always been strict,” with COVID-19 restrictions, he said. “[The U.S.] “We made our way before we did and yet they have this test, which seems very strange to me.”
US Airlines and other travel groups have pressured the Biden government abandon the test requirement, but the government has given no indication that it plans to repeal the rule.
Another COVID-19 wave?
The same day, Canada withdrew the testing requirement for travelers, federal health officials. he said expect an increase in COVID-19 cases in the coming weeks due to the infectious Omicron BA subtype. “Do not be reluctant to think this is over,” Dr. Teresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, told a news conference on Friday. “There will probably be more hits along the way.” Quebec and Ontario are already entering a sixth wave as infections increase in both provinces. The case numbers are also rising in Europe and China. So what does this mean for people making travel plans? Toronto emergency physician Dr. Kashif Pirzada advises Canadians to sit tight. “I do not think now is a good time to travel,” he said. “This is the time to drop the hatches, put on your shields and be careful.” However, he said that we should see another break in the cases soon. “Once that wave is over, it will be fine again – until another variation comes.” CLOCKS Concerns are growing in the midst of the arrival of the 6th wave:
Worried about the approach of the 6th wave in Canada
Ontario and Quebec are entering a sixth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, raising concerns that governments are not doing enough with restrictions to curb the growing number of cases. 2:02
An increase in cases could also mean a return to stricter travel rules. When the government announced last month that it had rejected the test requirement, it warned that nothing had been determined.
“All measures are subject to review,” said Health Minister Jean-Yves Douclos. “We will continue to adapt as the epidemiological situation develops here in Canada and abroad.”
Ottawa previously flip-flopped in the test rule last fall, when it rejected the demand for short-haul travel to the US, but reinstated it less than three weeks later when the Omicron hit.
Travel insurance
People can take out travel insurance to cover expenses if they get COVID-19 while traveling. Most providers also offer coverage if people test positive and have to delay or cancel their trip, said Will McAleer, executive director of the Travel Health Insurance Association of Canada. However, he warns that travelers are unlikely to have coverage if they miss their trip because they are worried about an increase in COVID-19 cases. “They will not be able to cancel [and get reimbursed] “Just because they are a little afraid that there may be more cases at the destination than they thought when they booked him,” he said. “If you change your mind, you do not want to go anymore, this is not a typical policy.” However, McAleer said, if Canada suddenly reinstates its non-essential travel advice abroad, insured travelers could cancel their trip and receive compensation – if the advice was still valid at the time of their planned trip.
