From the CBC:
“Unvaccinated travellers over
the age of 12 barred from planes and trains as of today”
Unvaccinated travellers over the
age of 12 won't be able to board a plane or train in Canada beginning today,
and a negative COVID-19 test will no longer serve as a substitute for most
people. The policy came into effect on Oct. 30, but the federal government
allowed a short transition period for unvaccinated travellers who could board
as long as they provided a negative molecular COVID-19 test taken within 72
hours before their trip. The stringent new requirement comes into effect as
Canada reacts to the emergence of the new, highly mutated omicron variant of
the coronavirus. The discovery of the new variant has prompted border closures
and heavier screening in Canada and abroad over fears it could prove more
transmissible. The risk related to the omicron variant is very high, according
to the World Health Organization, but there is still a lot public health
officials and scientists do not know about it. While anyone coming into Canada
or boarding a plane or train inside the country must be vaccinated, there are
currently no quarantine measures in place except for people who have recently
transited through southern Africa. While many airlines have so far been doing
random spot checks to ensure travellers are vaccinated, Air Canada and WestJet
have confirmed they will ask for proof from everyone boarding in Canada as of
today.
Other public health measures
still in place Other measures, like masks and health screenings, will still
be mandatory. "If you indicate to your airline or railway company
that you're eligible to board, but fail to provide proof of vaccination or
valid COVID-19 test result, you won't be allowed to travel and could face penalties
or fines," the government's website states. The government has
issued warnings on social media that even Canadians and permanent residents
abroad will not be able to return home without a full slate of approved
vaccines. There are some exceptions, including valid medical exemptions,
travel to remote communities only accessible by plane, and those transiting
through Canada en route to another destination. Most people who qualify
for an exemption will need a recent COVID-19 test. The vaccine mandate
was met with a positive reaction from Canada's airline industry when it was
first announced in October, though some companies worried about making the
necessary preparations in time. Since then the federal government
announced a standardized proof-of-vaccination document, which has been
distributed by provinces and territories for domestic and international travel.
^ Hopefully this won’t cause the
Unvaccinated to become even more violent then they have been. ^
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/unvaccinated-travellers-rules-1.6267648
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.