Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos announced Tuesday that in Canada, everyone arriving by air soon will be required to take a coronavirus test at the airport to combat the Omicron virus variant, except for those coming from the United States.
According to a statement issued by the ministry in Ottawa, this measure will enter into force within days.
Duclos added that Central Command is in talks with Canadian provincial leadership about whether the testing obligation could be extended to those entering the country by land across the US border if necessary.
Transport Minister Omar Al-Ghubra announced, on Tuesday, that the list of African countries barred from entering Canada due to the spread of the Omicron version has been expanded threefold. From now on, foreigners who visited Nigeria, Malawi or Egypt in the previous two weeks will not be allowed to enter the country. The list already included South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, according to an earlier decision.
Canadian citizens from the region can enter their home country, but they are required to take a test even if they have already been vaccinated against the coronavirus.
The omicron virus type, first identified in South Africa, appeared in Canada.
(Featured image: Passengers line up at a check-in desk at Johannes OR Tambo International Airport on November 27, 2021, after several countries banned flights from South Africa after discovering a new version of Covid-19 Omicron. After discovering the alternative, many countries around the World flights from South Africa, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Thailand, Brazil and many other European countries, including South Africa, Botswana, eSwatini, Lesotho, Namibia, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe Photo: Phill Magakoe/AFP)
