Canada requiring tests for all travellers, ending 10-country travel ban

Canada is once again requiring all incoming travellers, regardless of trip length or location, to provide proof of a pre-arrival negative molecular COVID-19 test in order to enter the country, and is ending its travel ban on 10 African countries. The federal government announced Friday that the updated pre-arrival testing requirement will come into effect on Dec. 21.

The federal government announced Friday that the updated pre-arrival testing requirement will come into effect on Dec. 21.

This means that as of next Tuesday, all travellers coming back into Canada after trips of 72 hours or less to the United States or other international locations will have to take a PCR test in a country other than Canada, before their scheduled departure.

This requirement was already in place for anyone coming into the country from longer trips abroad.

Asked what the justification was for reinstating that rule for short trips, given incubation periods, Health Minister jean-Yves Duclos said that while it may not catch every case, it’s “an additional layer” of protection for both the travellers and for those who would be exposed to them once they come back home.