Reports from Canada say that the Canadian Government has announced what it describes as “adjusted border measures”, which in essence means it is opening up its borders to unrestricted international travel.
The reason that Canada is able to do so is described as high rates of vaccination and declining COVID-19 cases, with the former in particular illustrating the stark difference between Australia and Canada, which direclty affects the latter, also highlighting the Australian Federal Government’s dire vaccine rollout performance or as commonly being called “strollout”.
As a result of Canada’s better than Australia performance, from 7 September, the Canadian Government says that intends to allow unrestricted entry to arrivals who have been fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to departure for Canada.
In the meantime, in even better news for those across the border to the south, on 9 August, the Canadian Government says that it plans to begin allowing entry to fully vaccinated US citizens and permanent residents.
A negative pre-entry COVID-19 test will still be required, but a new arrangement, described as a risk-based approach, is that post-arrival tests will only take place on a randomly selected basis for vaccinated travellers.
In addition, in even starker contrast with Australia, hotel quarantine will be eliminated for travellers arriving by air, with international flights carrying passengers able to land in addition to Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, at Halifax, Quebec City, Ottawa, Winnipeg and Edmonton.
A report by John Alwyn-Jones, Special Correspondent Travel and Tourism Global Travel Media.
