Canada Reverts to PCR Testing For Short Visits to the U.S.; Lifts Africa Travel Ban

So much for last-minute Christmas shopping in the States this year.

The Trudeau government today said it’s reintroducing the requirement for a pre-arrival negative PCR-style COVID-19 test for all travellers coming into Canada, even if they’re Canadians who’ve only been gone a short while. The new policy comes into place next Tuesday, December 21.

Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos made the announcement against the backdrop of rising Omicron-variant numbers across the country. He also said Canada is ending its much-criticized ban against travel to and from several African countries.

When he unveiled the Canadian government’s new travel advisory on Wednesday, Duclos suggested that other changes,

Today’s news means that, as of next Tuesday, all travellers coming back into Canada after trips of 72 hours or less to the United States or other international locations will have to take a PCR test in a country other than Canada, before their scheduled departure, CTV News reports.

The federal government earlier this month announced that all travellers flying into Canada from destinations other than the U.S. would have to be tested upon arrival. That policy hasn’t changed as of yet, but there was conjecture earlier this week that it might be expanded to include passengers coming in on flights from the States.

Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, told a media briefing that Canada needs PCR tests reinstated for short visits to the U.S. because of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.

“If you went to the United States and you catch COVID-19, it does take a bit of time for incubation to occur,” she said. “It may not catch everyone, but… we are still using a method of mandatory random testing to potentially detect others.”

The move will certainly deter Canadians from driving south for U.S. shopping bargains, but that’s probably a good thing for Canadian retailers. Canadians dead set on U.S. bargains will, however, have the next few days to scratch their itch.

“As I announced Wednesday, the Government of Canada is advising Canadians to avoid all non-essential travel outside the country,” Duclos said. “I will say it again: now is not the time to travel.”

Duclos said airport testing by private companies, not the airports themselves, are ramping up.

“Officials are working closely with airport authorities, airlines, and testing providers and many other partners to increase capacity at airports, manage traveller flow, and to make sure that the best testing protocol are implemented and as efficiently as possible,” he said.

The policy banning travel from South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Nigeria, Malawi and Egypt will be lifted as of tomorrow, Dec. 18, at 11:59 p.m., officials said.