COVID Updates
September 26, 2022
Canada to remove all border restrictions on October 1, 2022!
Government of Canada to remove COVID-19 border and travel measures effective October 1
News release
September 26, 2022 | Ottawa, ON | Public Health Agency of Canada
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Government of Canada has taken a layered approach to border management to protect the health and safety of Canadians. As the pandemic situation has continued to evolve, adjustments to border measures have been informed by the latest evidence, available data, operational considerations, and the epidemiological situation, both in Canada and internationally. Today the Government of Canada announced the removal of all COVID-19 entry restrictions, as well as testing, quarantine, and isolation requirements for anyone entering Canada, effective October 1, 2022.
The removal of border measures has been facilitated by a number of factors, including modelling that indicates that Canada has largely passed the peak of the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 fuelled wave, Canada’s high vaccination rates, lower hospitalization and death rates, as well as the availability and use of vaccine boosters (including new bivalent formulation), rapid tests, and treatments for COVID-19.
Effective October 1, 2022, all travellers, regardless of citizenship, will no longer have to:
- submit public health information through the ArriveCAN app or website;
- provide proof of vaccination;
- undergo pre- or on-arrival testing;
- carry out COVID-19-related quarantine or isolation;
- monitor and report if they develop signs or symptoms of COVID-19 upon arriving to Canada.
Transport Canada is also removing existing travel requirements. As of October 1, 2022, travellers will no longer be required to:
- undergo health checks for travel on air and rail; or
- wear masks on planes and trains.
Although the masking requirement is being lifted, all travellers are strongly recommended to wear high quality and well-fitted masks during their journeys.
Cruise measures are also being lifted, and travellers will no longer be required to have pre-board tests, be vaccinated, or use ArriveCAN. A set of guidelines will remain to protect passengers and crew, which will align with the approach used in the United States.
Individuals are reminded that they should not travel if they have symptoms of COVID-19. If travellers become sick while travelling, and are still sick when they arrive in Canada, they should inform a flight attendant, cruise staff, or a border services officer upon arrival. They may then be referred to a quarantine officer who will decide whether the traveller needs further medical assessment as COVID-19 remains one of many communicable diseases listed in the Quarantine Act.
The Government of Canada also reminds travellers to make informed decisions when considering travel outside of Canada to protect their health and safety. They are encouraged to review the travel advice at https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories for more information on safe travel.
Canadians can continue to do their part to protect themselves and others, and reduce the spread of COVID-19, by getting vaccinated and boosted, using high quality and well-fitted masks where appropriate, self-isolating if they have symptoms and self-testing if they can.
Quotes
“Thanks largely to Canadians who have rolled up their sleeves to get vaccinated, we have reached the point where we can safely lift the sanitary measures at the border. However, we expect COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses will continue to circulate over the cold months, so I encourage everyone to stay up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccination, including booster doses and exercise individual public health measures. I also thank the dedicated public health officers and frontline staff at our land borders and airports who have worked tirelessly to protect the health and safety of people in Canada for the last two years.”
The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Health
“Canada’s travel measures successfully mitigated the full impact of COVID-19 for travellers and workers in the transportation sector, and helped keep communities safe. Thanks to Canadians who rolled up their sleeves and got vaccinated, we are able to take this great step towards easing measures and returning to normal.”
The Honourable Omar Alghabra
Minister of Transport
“Since the start, our Government has taken the necessary steps to keep Canadians safe in the face of a global pandemic. COVID-19 border measures were always meant to be temporary and we are making adjustments based on the current situation because that’s what Canadians expect. I want to thank CBSA officers who are at the front line facilitating travel, supporting our economy, and ensuring the safety and security of our communities.”
The Honourable Marco Mendicino
Minister of Public Safety
Quick facts
- Travellers must follow any provincial or territorial COVID-19 requirements as applicable. Foreign nationals must still meet the entry requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and provide appropriate travel and immigration documentation as necessary.
- Air carriers will no longer need to validate that travellers have entered information in ArriveCAN before boarding.
- As of October 1, 2022, travellers who entered Canada in the 14 days prior to October 1, 2022, will not be required to complete the remainder of their quarantine or isolation, or complete their testing requirements.
- While travellers will no longer have to submit their quarantine and vaccination information through ArriveCAN, they can continue to use the optional Advance Declaration feature in ArriveCAN (free as a mobile app or on the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) website) to save time at the airport by submitting their customs and immigration declaration in advance of arrival.
- This feature is currently available to travellers arriving at Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, or Montréal-Trudeau international airports and will expand to the Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Billy Bishop Toronto City, Ottawa, Québec City, and Halifax international airports in the coming months.
- Early data shows that using the Advance CBSA Declaration in ArriveCAN cuts the amount of time a traveller spends at a kiosk by roughly one third, and over 30% of travellers arriving at the airports are already using it.
- The CBSA will continue to make technology available at the border to speed up traveller entry and enhance the safety and security of Canadians. For example, CBSA is exploring other optional ArriveCAN features to provide travellers with easy access to information such as border wait times, and other self-serve functions. This will be expanded to travellers by land so they can make use of available technology to expedite and facilitate their travel.
March 16, 2022
Canada to lift all testing requirements for fully vaccinated travellers as of April 1st.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/federal-government-to-drop-pre-departure-testing-1.6386763?__vfz=medium%3Dsharebar&fbclid=IwAR2YwIji_91YbJ0UwhqpIW1wA4f90ju4DB9YoGr5rLkEuL4_pz-pdsP2q4Y
February 17, 2022
Entry requirements have been modified to include the acceptance of a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) 24 hours prior to border arrival.
Tests must be completed by a third party ie. Hospital, Clinic, Drug Store
https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada
July 23, 2021
We are all excited about the border opening next month and we want to keep you up to date about the details regarding entry into Canada:
UPDATE – As of July 23, 2021
The Canadian Government is continuing to update the website and ArriveCAN app with information in regards to crossing the border into Canada. Please keep checking the websites and ArriveCAN app.
Please be mindful of the following if you are planning to travel into Canada, and that everything is subject to change:
- Currently, to re-enter the USA via Land Border you will not be required to provide a Covid Test result. Re-entry to the USA via AIR you are required to complete a Covid test.
- The mandatory “Quarantine Plan” has been somewhat explained. Your Quarantine location will be your vacation destination ie: Striker’s Point Lodge. The contact phone number will be Wilderness North 807-983-2047.
- In the event that you are randomly tested at the border, and test positive: You ARE allowed to return back to the USA immediately.
- There is a possibility the CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) may go on strike. “If more than half vote yes, they could be in a strike position by early August — just as the country prepares to again welcome fully vaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents. While a number of CBSA officers would be deemed essential workers, a strike could cause massive delays for those traveling by air and land.”
- Please make sure the Covid Testing you have within 72 hours of arriving at the border is a PCR – Molecular Test– this is very important. Contact your local pharmacy or clinics to see if they provide that specific testing and if the results will be available in the 72-hour window.
These tests are considered acceptable molecular tests:
- PCR – Polymerase chain reaction
- RT-PCR – reverse transcription real time PCR
- Quantitative PCR (qPCR)
- Nucleic acid test (NAT) or Nucleic acid amplification test (NAATs)
- Reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP)
- Isothermal amplification
- Droplet digital PCR or digital droplet PCR (ddPCR)
- Transcription-mediated amplification (TMA)
- RNA (Ribonucleic acid)
- Ct (cycle threshold)
- CRISPR
- Sequencing
- Next generational sequencing (NGS) or whole genome sequencing (WGS)
- Oxford Nanopore sequencing (LamPORE)
- Detection of the N gene
- Detection of Orf1a/b
- Detection of the S gene
- Detection of the E gene
- Detection of the RdRp gene
You can obtain rapid molecular tests at both Walgreens and CVS pharmacies.
https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/covid19/testing?ban=covid_vanity_testing
https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing
PLEASE NOTE, A RAPID MOLECULAR TEST IS NEEDED TO ENTER, RAPID ANTIGEN IS NOT PERMITTED.
To summarize the following is required for entry into Canada after August 09, 2021:
- Fully Vaccinated against Covid 19 by a series of vaccines approved by the Government of Canada
- PCR (Covid 19 Test) Required up to 72 hours PRIOR to crossing
- Quarantine plan (in case you are randomly selected for a post-entry test or you do not meet requirements)
- Must use ArriveCAN app or web portal
- Masks will be required
Please review the links below for more information regarding entry into Canada:
https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid
July 19, 2021
The Canadian Border will open for tourism on August 9, 2021.
June 18, 2021
Canada’s border will remain closed until at least July 21, 2021.
https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/canada-extending-u-s-border-restrictions-to-july-21-1.1618748
May 20, 2021
Canada’s border will remain closed until at least June 21, 2021.
https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/covid/menu-eng.html
May 13, 2021
Ontario extends lockdown until June 2, 2021.
https://www.cp24.com/news/ford-government-extends-provincewide-stay-at-home-order-until-june-2-1.5425963?cache=envhbmdlvitqz%3FclipId%3D89830
April 20, 2021
Canada’s border will remain closed until at least May 21, 2021.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/canada-s-border-restrictions-to-remain-in-place-another-month-at-least-1.5394551
April 17, 2021
Effective today, Ontario extends lockdown until at least May 20, 2021.
New restrictions have been imposed as well:
Interprovincial travel
- Starting Monday, the province is setting up checkpoints at all interprovincial borders. Ontario will limit access to border crossings between Ontario and Manitoba and Quebec.
- Travellers who are coming into Ontario for work, medical care, transportation of goods and exercising indigenous treaty rights will be exempted.
Stay-at-home order
- The stay-at-home order, which went into effect on April 8 and was expected to last for 28 days, will now be extended for an additional two weeks. It will now be a six-week-long order that will last until May 20 at least.
- Residents must remain at home at all times, with exceptions for essential purposes, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services, for exercise or for essential work.
- Businesses across the province must ensure that any employee who can work from home does work from home.
Outdoor gatherings limited
- Starting Saturday, all outdoor social gatherings and organized public events will be prohibited, except with members of the same household. A person who lives alone could gather with one other household.
- All outdoor recreational amenities such as golf courses and basketball courts will be closed. The province originally ordered the closure of all playgrounds, but reversed the decision Saturday afternoon following backlash to the order.
Retail capacity slashed
- Non-essential stores must open no earlier than 7 a.m. and close no later than 8 p.m., including hardware stores, alcohol retailers, and those offering curbside pickup or delivery.
- Capacity limits for in-person shopping in all retail settings where in person shopping is permitted, including supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores and stores that primarily sell food and pharmaceutical products, will be limited to 25 per cent capacity.
Places of worship
- Starting Monday, capacity at weddings, funerals and religious services will be limited to 10 people indoors and outdoors.
- Drive-in services will be permitted.
Non-essential construction
- The government says non-essential construction will close, including construction at shopping malls, hotels and office towers.
- The province says it launched an enhanced provincewide inspection campaign of construction sites, dispatching 200 workplace inspectors, supported by provincial offenses officers, to visit 1,300 constructions sites to enforce COVID-19 safety requirements.
New Enforcement Measures
- If a police officer or other provincial offences officer has reason to suspect that you are participating in an organized public event or social gathering, they may require you to provide information to ensure you are complying with restrictions. Originally, police officers had the authority to randomly stop people and require them to provide their home address and purpose for not being at their residence. Police also had the ability to stop vehicles to inquire about and reason for people leaving their homes. The government later walked back on those orders.
- Provincial offences officers will also be visiting over 500 workplaces this weekend in the COVID-19 hotspots of Ottawa, Toronto and York Region. Their visits will include big-box stores, food processors, manufacturers and warehouses.
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-extends-stay-at-home-order-restricts-interprovincial-travel-as-province-loses-battle-against-covid-19-1.5390016
April 8, 2021
Effective today, Ontario enacts provincial emergency and stay-at-home order for 4 weeks.
https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/61029/ontario-enacts-provincial-emergency-and-stay-at-home-order
April 3, 2021
Effective today, Ontario is now under a province wide shutdown for 4 weeks:
https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/ford-orders-province-wide-shutdown-for-four-weeks-3597469
March 18, 2021
Canada-US border will remain closed another month, at least until April 21, 2021.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/u-s-canada-land-border-restrictions-extended-for-at-least-another-month-1.5352275
February 22, 2021
Canada has announced the border will remain closed until at least March 21, 2021, with the possibility of another extension.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/canada-u-s-border-closed-to-non-essential-travel-until-at-least-march-21-1.5316992
February 10, 2021
As Ontario is reporting lower case numbers and the provincial government is planning the re-opening of the economy we are cautiously optimistic.
We are watching the updates daily and looking towards setting an opening date for summer 2021. Rest assured, we are fine-tuning our covid opening processes and ensuring all necessary precautions are in place.
