OTTAWA — Vaccinated travellers can enter Canada without a COVID-19 test beginning today.
The change will spark a surge in travel bookings both into and out of the country, according to the Tourism Industry Association of Canada, although it's not likely to reach pre-pandemic levels yet.
People could still be randomly tested when they arrive and Health Canada requires anyone coming from outside the country to wear a mask in public for 14 days.
Unvaccinated travellers will be tested upon arrival and again eight days later, and will be required to quarantine for two weeks.
Unvaccinated Canadians and other travellers who are exempt from the vaccine requirement will still need to provide a negative COVID-19 test or evidence enough time has passed after an infection to enter the country.
While the travel and tourism industries are optimistic about the change, there is a possibility the government could reinstate border restrictions in response to rising cases of a more contagious subvariant of Omicron.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 1, 2022.
The Canadian Press
