۴ý

Coronavirus

    • Travellers to Canada must still wear masks for two weeks, despite relaxed provincial measures

    Share

    Despite provinces and territories having lifted most of their pandemic restrictions, including mask mandates, the federal government still requires that incoming travellers to Canada wear a mask for two weeks.

    The federal government's current rules state that travellers, including children aged five and up, coming to Canada must wear a "well-constructed and well-fitting mask" .

    Incoming travellers also must keep a list of close contacts and locations visited, as well as copies of their proof of vaccination, according to the government website listing requirements for vaccinated travellers.

    In cases where federal rules differ from provincial or territorial ones, travellers must follow the stricter regulations, the federal government says.

    Dr. Peter Juni, scientific director of Ontario's COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview on Wednesday that he does not believe the rule is necessary at this stage in the pandemic.

    Not only did the rule not make sense when it comes to masking outdoors, unless in a crowded setting, he said, there are also different sub-variants of the highly-infectious Omicron variant now that are dominant worldwide.

    "I don't think that there will be a difference made in the situation we're in through masking behaviour that is different for travellers coming internationally, as compared with the people here," he said.

    Whether travellers would even follow this rule is something Juni has "serious doubts" about.

    A more reasonable alternative, he said, would be to have travellers take rapid tests on the day of their arrival and 24 hours later, swabbing the back of the throat and inside the nose, recording the results and monitoring for symptoms, with perhaps two days of masking in indoor spaces.

    "That would be from my perspective a pragmatic solution that could be done," he said. "Alternatively, just drop the requirement entirely right now."

    In a statement, a spokesperson for Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada said all travellers entering Canada must follow the under the federal , in order to "limit the spread of COVID-19 and variants in Canada."

    "Wearing a mask continues to be effective because, when layered with other recommended public health measures, a well-constructed, well-fitting and properly worn mask can help prevent the spread of COVID-19," the spokesperson said.

    Those who show signs and symptoms, or receive a positive COVID-19 test result, are required to to the Public Health Agency of Canada and isolate for 10 days, even if the provincial or territorial isolation period is shorter.

    The federal spokesperson also referred CTVNews.ca to the with the Quarantine Act, which can include possible imprisonment and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.

    A web page detailing those consequences says the Public Health Agency of Canada works with the RCMP, as well as local and provincial police services, to ensure travellers are compliant and will follow up “as they view most appropriate.”

    "The Government of Canada's priority has been, and will continue to be, the health and safety of all Canadians," the spokesperson said.

    "Throughout this pandemic, science has been the foundation of its response and has guided its decision making, its actions and its guidance to Canadians, to limit the spread of COVID-19 in communities."

    PROVINCES, TERRITORIES LOOSEN RESTRICTIONS

    Multiple provinces have ended their mask mandates in most settings, including , , , , , , and .

    has extended its mask mandate until April 30 at least, while is requiring masks until April 28.

    currently has no COVID-related public health orders in effect.

    The  also have lifted most, or all, of their mask mandates.

    On April 1, the federal government loosened testing requirements for international travel, including removing the negative pre-entry COVID-19 test requirement for fully vaccinated travellers, although passengers may be subject to random PCR testing at airports.

    In the United States, a federal judge in Florida this week struck down a national mask mandate from the Transportation Security Administration that applied to airplanes, airports, taxis and other mass transit.

    The judge ruled that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention overstepped its authority and did not follow proper rulemaking procedures when it issued the original health order that the TSA directive was based on.

    In response to the court ruling, the TSA announced . The CDC had previously extended its mask order to .

    The ruling, however, does allow airlines and other mass transit to keep mask rules in place if they choose.

    Meanwhile in Canada, passengers must wear a mask when travelling by air or rail.

    Asked about the U.S. court ruling on Tuesday, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra did not comment directly but said Canada's mask regulation is based on expert advice and data.

    "It is proven that masks prevent or reduce the transmission of COVID," he said.

    However, on Wednesday, the U.S. Justice Department announced it would appeal the court's decision if the CDC concludes that the order is .

    "I think it would have been reasonable to keep this requirement just for public transport and this, of course, includes airplanes and crowded spaces such as an airport," Juni said.

    "From an epidemiological perspective, this decision in court didn't make real sense."

    He added that roughly five per cent of Ontario's population has an active COVID-19 infection, based on factors such as wastewater data, which researchers have increasingly relied upon in recent weeks to estimate daily COVID-19 case counts.

    "What this means is it makes perfect sense, irrespective of travelling, to wear a mask in public indoor spaces just for a few more weeks, and this has got nothing to do with travelling," Juni said.

    With files from ۴ý

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    BREAKING

    BREAKING

    A search has started at Prairie Green Landfill for the remains of two victims of a serial killer.

    A memorial is growing outside a Walmart in Halifax after a 19-year-old employee was found dead inside an oven in the store Saturday night.

    The president and CEO of New Brunswick-based Covered Bridge Potato Chips is taking an 'extended leave of absence' after being charged with domestic violence this past weekend.

    Canada

    • The president and CEO of New Brunswick-based Covered Bridge Potato Chips is taking an 'extended leave of absence' after being charged with domestic violence this past weekend.

    • A man is dead following an RCMP shooting near a hospital in B.C.’s Okanagan on Tuesday afternoon, prompting an investigation by the province’s police watchdog.

    • A new report suggests that Canadians' exposure to a radioactive gas is increasing, putting millions of people at a higher risk of developing lung cancer.

    • A memorial is growing outside a Walmart in Halifax after a 19-year-old employee was found dead inside an oven in the store Saturday night.

    • BREAKING

      BREAKING

      A search has started at Prairie Green Landfill for the remains of two victims of a serial killer.

    World

    Politics

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    • A meteor lit up our region's sky last night – with a large fireball shooting across the horizon over Lake Erie at around 7:00 p.m.

    • The estimated population of North Atlantic right whales increased in 2023, but a group of international marine scientists say human behaviour still poses a significant threat to the critically endangered species.

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    Autos

    Local Spotlight

    A meteor lit up our region's sky last night – with a large fireball shooting across the horizon over Lake Erie at around 7:00 p.m.

    Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

    A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.

    A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.

    A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.

    Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.

    Looking for a scare with good intentions this Halloween season? The ghosts and ghouls of Eganville, Ont. invite families to tour the Haunted Walk at Lekbor Manor.

    The image of a sleepy Saskatchewan small town with 'not a lot going on' is a well-known anecdote. However, one Saskatchewan company is hoping to change that – and allow communities both on and off the beaten path to share their stories and advertise what they have to offer.

    A Moncton, N.B., home has been donated to the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation and will be transformed into a resource hub for people living with cancer.

    • A man who fired at least 19 gunshots at an RCMP detachment in northern British Columbia, narrowly missing officers inside, has won a reduced prison sentence from the province's highest court, which ruled the sentencing judge failed to fully weigh the man's mental illness at the time.

    • A man is dead following an RCMP shooting near a hospital in B.C.’s Okanagan on Tuesday afternoon, prompting an investigation by the province’s police watchdog.

    • Mounties in Burnaby say a man they identified as a suspect in a string of thefts from a single store in Metrotown has been criminally charged.

    • He is a familiar face to residents of a neighbourhood just west of Roncesvalles Avenue.

    • The federal government says it can’t wait any longer for Ontario to end encampments in its cities and will offer money directly to municipalities, including Toronto, to fix the problem.

    • The Smith government says it's coming to the defence of Albertans and its regulated professionals who have had their freedom of expression limited and forced into training beyond the scope of their practice.

    • Calgary police say thousands of dollars worth of stolen goods and a loaded shotgun were seized from an encampment in the community of Ogden.

    • The Alberta Pharmacists' Association says government cuts to service compensation fees will be detrimental to pharmacists across the province.

    • A Zamboni driver in western Quebec has been arrested on suspicion of impaired driving after a low-speed crash at a hockey rink on Monday.

    • Popular Kanata restaurant D'Arcy McGee's has suddenly closed its doors. In a post on Facebook Tuesday night, D'Arcy McGee's said, "We will sadly be closing our doors."

    • The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada is now joining the Canadian Association of Public Employees (CAPE) in calling on the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates to conduct a "thorough investigation.

    • Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante will not be seeking re-election.

    • The number of patients waiting for cancer surgeries recently hit a new high in Quebec and on Wednesday the opposition was accusing the provincial health minister of dodging questions on the issue.

    • The two environmental activists who climbed to the top of the Jacques Cartier Bridge early on Tuesday morning in Montreal have been charged with mischief and resisting or obstructing a peace officer.

    • The Alberta government's recent use of a rarely used measure to intervene in labour disputes is a sign of what's to come, says a labour policy professor.

    • The Alberta Pharmacists' Association says government cuts to service compensation fees will be detrimental to pharmacists across the province.

    • An Edmonton tow truck operator has been charged after police say he refused to release a vehicle to its owner.

    • A memorial is growing outside a Walmart in Halifax after a 19-year-old employee was found dead inside an oven in the store Saturday night.

    • The president and CEO of New Brunswick-based Covered Bridge Potato Chips is taking an 'extended leave of absence' after being charged with domestic violence this past weekend.

    • The Nova Scotia government says it plans to reduce the province's harmonized sales tax (HST) rate by one percentage point next year.

    • BREAKING

      BREAKING

      A search has started at Prairie Green Landfill for the remains of two victims of a serial killer.

    • A 59-year-old man has died following a crash involving three vehicles that startED after a tire fell off a car on the Trans-Canada Highway Wednesday morning in the RM of Tache.

    • Police are asking for the public's help finding a 27-year-old inmate who was mistakenly released from custody in Manitoba.

    • Regina police says officers will provide an update Thursday in its search for the suspect of a homicide that took place in the city during the summer of 2023.

    • Saskatchewan RCMP says it doesn't believe that a threat directed at Yorkton Regional High School is credible at this time.

    • Zackary Bellegarde, who faced multiple charges relating to the possession and distribution of child pornography, has pled guilty.

    • Detective Robert Hofstetter examined Erb’s home after her death and came to several conclusions based on the blood stains he found there.

    • A 27-year-old man is miraculously alive after his pickup went over Hawk Cliff near Port Stanley, Ont. On Wednesday. Fire fighters estimate that from the top to bottom of the embankment is around 270 feet.

    • Court is hearing that a man who stabbed a professor and two students in a University of Waterloo gender studies class last year may have experienced a psychotic break in the weeks before the attack.

    • Saskatoon Public Library workers are in a strike position following the rejection of a tentative agreement with the employer.

    • Candidates across Saskatchewan are making their final pitches to potential voters as the 2024 election campaign is quickly approaching its end.

    • Saskatoon police are investigating after a group of teenagers discharged bear spray on a city bus Tuesday evening.

    • BREAKING

      BREAKING

      A Sudbury jury has found Felicity Altiman guilty of second-degree murder in the December 2020 stabbing death of a Sudbury man.

    • It only took minutes for North Bay pharmacist Brian Chute to be out $1,500 after fraudsters deceptively swapped his bank card with another.

    • Greater Sudbury has ended the employment of CAO Ed Archer, Mayor Paul Lefebvre announced suddenly Tuesday evening

    • A 27-year-old man is miraculously alive after his pickup went over Hawk Cliff near Port Stanley, Ont. On Wednesday. Fire fighters estimate that from the top to bottom of the embankment is around 270 feet.

    • Police said the house is believed to be empty and abandoned and it's not known yet if the driver of the truck is injured.

    • Frustration over long wait times has spurred a doctor to create a new eating disorders clinic in London, Ont. ‘The Harbour’ is located inside Western University Research Park.

    • A haunted house in the Town of Innisfil is causing a real scare for some people a week before Halloween.

    • Barrie police conducted a search on Wednesday of the last place Autumn Shaganash was seen in hopes of giving her family some answers to her mysterious disappearance.

    • A 34-year-old motorcyclist has died following a collision in Barrie’s south end on Tuesday.

    • As hospitals elsewhere in Ontario reintroduce mask mandates due to rising respiratory illnesses, Windsor hospitals are taking a more measured approach.

    • Windsor police are looking to identify four suspects after a pizza delivery driver was allegedly robbed and assaulted.

    • A new mental health and addictions service inventory is launching for those looking for help with mental health and addition in Windsor and Essex County.

    • A man who fired at least 19 gunshots at an RCMP detachment in northern British Columbia, narrowly missing officers inside, has won a reduced prison sentence from the province's highest court, which ruled the sentencing judge failed to fully weigh the man's mental illness at the time.

    • An oil salvage operation is underway on the fragile wreckage of a U.S. army transport ship that sank almost 80 years ago off coastal British Columbia in a race to head off an eruption of thousands of litres of oil that a coast guard official says is "near imminent."

    • Green Leader Sonia Furstenau is set to meet the media for the first time since British Columbia's indecisive election on Saturday, amid speculation about a possible minority government.

    • Dave Lindsey began growing giant pumpkins to bring a bit of magic to his grandkids' Halloween.

    • A U.S. District Court judge in Montana has sentenced a 27-year-old man from Kelowna, B.C., to 18 months in prison for using fake names to buy guns with the aim of selling them in Canada.

    • Nearly two years after a man was stabbed to death in downtown Kelowna, RCMP have made an arrest in the case.

    • A proposed coal mine — not tourism — is critical in revitalizing southwestern Alberta communities along the edge of the Rockies, a group in favour of a controversial project maintains.

    • Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she's waiting for NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi to declare where he intends to run for office before she calls a byelection in Lethbridge.

    • The health of honeybees will be the focus of a presentation at the University of Lethbridge on Wednesday evening.

    • The union representing the fire rangers with the Ministry of Natural Resources says money won’t fix the systemic problems in the workplace.

    • Rallies by a group called Voices Against Violence took place across the country on Monday, including Sault Ste. Marie.

    • An Indigenous group in northwestern Ontario shut down the highway for a couple of hours Monday morning in protest after ancestral remains were found at a construction site.

    N.L.

    Shopping Trends

    The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at ۴ý. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.

    Stay Connected
    Follow ۴ý