Canada cancels China travel ban
The Canadian government has recently announced a decision to cancel their travel ban on China due to the coronavirus pandemic. The former ban on all non-essential travel was imposed in March of last year as a precautionary measure in order to prevent the spread of the virus. Despite the lifting of the ban, however, public health experts are still urging citizens to take extra measures while travelling.
As Canada’s borders start to open, tourism and other forms of travel impose a risk of the virus resurgence. According to the Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, “Travel remains an important part of family and friends staying connected, and is important to the economic recoveries of many provinces, regions and countries around the world.” However, she also made sure to emphasize that increased travel must be balanced with risk of transmission.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has repeatedly warned of a third-wave of the pandemic, and many efforts are being taken to prevent such a large scale increase in cases. Currently, the country has been hit with over 1.3 million cases of Covid-19, and the numbers are still rising.
It is worth noting that travelers are still required to provide evidence of a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours of their scheduled travel. Furthermore, travelers and transporters must provide a version of the Travel Declaration Card to Canada’s public health agency at the point of entry. The Declaration Card includes an agreement to abide by the country’s quarantine regulations and other restrictions.
Impacts of the ban
The travel ban on China has had far-reaching implications, both in terms of non-essential travel and international relations. In addition to its strong financial effects, the ban put in question the stability of diplomatic ties between the two countries. According to the former Canadian ambassador to China, David Mulroney, “It’s become increasingly clear that this pandemic has presented a really degenerative force in relations between China and Canada. It seems to complicate every aspect of the relationship and that’s certainly the case with travel.”
At the same time, the ban has created an obstacle to natural family reunification. By taking away the ability of Chinese families to travel to Canada, the policy has made it more difficult for members of traditional extended families to reunite.
Finally, the travel ban has had a considerable economic effect on China’s tourism industry, which ultimately had to be taken into consideration when composing Canada’s new policy on foreign travel.
Perspectives of the Experts
Canadian experts on public health are looking at the policy change cautiously, urging caution and precaution. As Dr. Zain Chagla, an infectious disease specialist at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton in Ontario warned, “The risks need to be weighed very heavily and people need to be prepared for travel, both domestically and internationally, and make decisions based on risk assessment.”
Arash Madani, a national correspondent on Sportsnet, also commented on the issue. “The same advice applies to international travel. Concerned citizens should be aware of the risks involved in the current situation and take all precautions necessary to minimize the odds of themselves being exposed to the virus.”
Finally, Hilary Butler-Yeo, president of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, said, “This is a very difficult decision – balancing the need for international ties with the need to protect Canadians from a virus.The public health response must be strong and proactive, and must take into account the global nature of this pandemic.”
International Travel Restrictions and Canada
As more and more countries begin to lift their travel restrictions, Canada is facing a major dilemma. On one hand, citizens must be able to travel, for both personal reasons and in order to support the country’s economic recovery. On the other hand, however, the risk of a third wave of Covid-19 infection is becoming increasingly real.
Currently, the Canadian government is enforcing tougher restrictions on travellers from certain countries. All passengers coming from the United Kingdom, United States, India, and many other countries are now required to show proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of their scheduled travel.
Despite the imposition of such measures, however, the fear of increasing cases remains high. Especially with the arrival of new contagious variants of Covid-19, the possibility of a third wave increases exponentially. Therefore, the public must be aware of the risks and follow all necessary precautions while venturing outside.
Testing and Quarantine Regulations
It is now required for all incoming passengers to Canada to take a PCR test within three days of their scheduled travel, and present its results at the time of entry. Moreover, in order to prevent transmission, passengers have also been asked to quarantine for two weeks once they arrive in Canada.
This two-week period is important in order to detect any asymptomatic cases of Covid-19. So far, Canada has reported over 18,000 cases of people who tested positive for Covid-19 after they had completed 14 days of quarantine. Therefore, it is important for all passengers to take the guidelines seriously and get tested if they start to feel any symptoms.
Canada’s Vaccination Efforts
In order to prevent a third wave of Covid-19, the government has recently started to ramp up their vaccination efforts and deploy resources more efficiently. Furthermore, the Canadian government has also called for an increase in the speed of its vaccine delivery. The World Health Organization has reported that Canada has so far received over 4.5 million doses of the vaccine and is on track to reach their goal of vaccinating close to 70% of the population by the end of 2021.
In this regard, the government has also announced the development of an online platform where citizens can access information and book their vaccines. According to Prime Minister Trudeau, “We want someone to be able to go online and find out exactly when it’s going to be their turn and where the closest or most suitable place to get that vaccine is.”
The Impact of Vaccination on Tourism
The rapid inoculation of Canadians is expected to play a big role in the country’s tourism industry. With more and more people receiving the vaccine, there will be an increase in the number of people travelling both domestically and abroad. In addition, the lifting of the travel ban on China bodes well for future relations between the two countries. As more and more people start to travel to China for business and leisure, the country’s tourism industry will be able to recover from the damage inflicted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Meanwhile, the Canadian government is also discussing plans to create an integrated tourism package to help citizens experience new places and events. According to the Minister of Tourism, Mélanie Joly, “We are committed to creating a coordinated package of measures that will help tourists explore new destinations, access the attractions and experiences they have come to expect and feel secure while traveling.”
What the Future Holds
As the government continues to lift travel restrictions on foreign countries, tourism and leisure activities become more feasible. More recently, some provinces like Ontario have begun to relax their safety protocols in order to make accommodation and transportation easier for travelers. Airports, for instance, have started to impose fewer restrictions when it comes to checking in passengers.
However, as experts continue to urge caution, travel remains a risky endeavor. It is, thus, important to follow all safety measures and take any necessary precautions before venturing into the world.
