Canada will eliminate pre-testing for COVID-19 for those entering the country
The Canadian government has announced that the pre-testing requirement for fully vaccinated travelers will be eliminated as of April 1.
Today, the Government of Canada announced that starting April 1, 2022, travelers entering Canada will no longer be required to take a COVID-19 test before arrival. Testing requirements will be eliminated at both airports and land border crossings. The country decided to take this step two years after the pandemic began. The number of trips has increased significantly recently, the provinces and territories of Canada are gradually loosening the restrictions.
Selective screening will remain in effect. Thus, travelers entering Canada from any country may be required to undergo a molecular test for COVID-19. In doing so, they will be exempt from being in quarantine while waiting for the results. For unvaccinated and partially vaccinated persons, current testing requirements will remain in effect.
The abolition of the pre-testing requirement was lobbied for by representatives of the tourism industry. They have repeatedly expressed the need to ease testing requirements. Visitors themselves also complained that it was expensive and difficult to find Canadian-approved testing centers abroad. Infectious disease expert Dr. Zain Chagla told a news conference last month that since Omicron has already spread across Canada, pre— and post-arrival testing is of no benefit and only incurs unnecessary costs.
