If the Canadian travel industry is counting on public pressure to get Ottawa to ease travel restrictions, they’re in a bit of trouble. A new poll from Angus Reid finds the Canadian public is still high on testing and vaccination requirements for travel outside of the country. The poll found that slightly more than three in five Canadians are in favour of testing at the border. Asked if they support mandatory COVID testing to travel internationally or cross the border with the U.S., 61% said they’re in favour. Even in Alberta, 49% of respondents are on board with border testing. Read more
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Jamaica lovers, rejoice. Effective March 1, 2022, international visitors to Jamaica will no longer be required to obtain travel authorization to enter the island. Travellers 12 years of age and older will only need to provide a negative result from a COVID-19 Antigen or PCR test conducted within 72 hours prior to their travel. Additionally, travellers to Jamaica will no longer face travel-related quarantine measures. “Eliminating travel-related quarantines and the need for travellers to fill out and receive approval of the Travel Authorization form are key steps in relaxing our travel protocols as the global spread of COVID-19 declines,” said Read more
Travel to Europe could get a lot easier very soon. The European Council has recommended that EU members ease travel restrictions on passengers arriving from “third” countries, such as Canada and the U.S., starting March 1. Business Travel News Europe said the council recommends that member states allow non-essential travel for people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 or who have recovered from the virus. To qualify as vaccinated, travellers must have had their last dose of their primary vaccination “at least 14 days and no more than 270 days before arrival or they have received a booster dose,” Read more
In the public interest, I’m publishing the press release sent out today by the Canadian government regarding travel rule changes. Recent data indicates that the latest wave of COVID-19 driven by the Omicron variant has passed its peak in Canada. As provinces and territories adjust their public health measures, and as we transition away from the crisis phase, it is now time to move towards a more sustainable approach to long-term management of COVID-19. This transition is possible because of a number of factors, including Canada’s high vaccination rates, the increasing availability and use of rapid tests to detect infection, Read more
If you’re thinking of traveling sometime soon, you might want to make sure you’ve had your booster shot. The Washington Post reports that several destinations, including France and the county of Maui in Hawaii, are requiring record of a booster for folks who want to gather in public places. USA Today says not having a booster could mean additional entry requirements or being denied access to venues or the country itself. The newspaper also noted that “more countries could move toward booster requirements to curb the spread of the COVID.” BLACK HISTORY BOOST FOR NOVA SCOTIA? A story at signalhfx.ca Read more
