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The number of people who received their COVID-19 vaccine exhibits an optimistic climb in the past few weeks. Thus, it is reasonable for many to expect a border reopening in the near future. On June 9th, the Minister of Public Health Agency announced that as early as July, Canada will conduct a multi-phased lift of travelling restrictions. For travellers who are fully vaccinated 14 days prior to their arrival, quarantine no longer remains mandatory. Meanwhile, Canada still requires negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results from travellers.
Whether to lift travel restrictions depends largely on Canada’s vaccination statistics, as well as daily COVID-19 infections. Currently, the country only approves the following four brands of vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca.
– An excerpt from Patty Hajdu’s speech, Canada’s Minister of Public Health
As stated in the beginning, the quarantine-free proposal will be carried out in multiple phases. Only Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and essential workers are exempt from quarantine during phase one. Additionally, they must be fully vaccinated 14 days prior to arrival. If not, then they will also be subject to quarantine measures.
An exemption from quarantine does not exclude one from providing the following documents:
- A negative PCR test result conducted 72 hours prior to flight boarding
- A three-days quarantine plan at a government approved accommodation while waiting for PCR test results upon landing;
- A negative PCR test result conducted upon landing.
Returning international students still need to comply with mandatory quarantine requirements. With that said, those who are returning to Canada for summer/fall semester should plan their travel schedule ahead. According to Theresa Tam, the Executive of Public Health Agency of Canada, a full border reopening depends on at least 75% of Canadians being fully vaccinated.
By June 05, 2021, the vaccination status in Canada is as the follows:
61.34% of the nation’s population and 70.13% of those 12 years and older have received their first dose.
8.02% of the nation’s population and 9.17% of those 12 years and older are fully vaccinated.
Thomas Wang & Associates (TWA) is a Vancouver based immigration consulting law firm, we specialize in refugee, immigration appeals, business immigration, CEC, PNP, international student immigration, work permit, study permit, and other immigration affairs. We are one of the handful of immigration services in Vancouver that enjoys the reputation of providing cordial refugee services.