Question Period Note: Border Measures

N/A

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has put successive border measures in place in response to COVID-19, under the Quarantine Act.
Key Messages

• Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada has taken a comprehensive, layered approach to border management, with measures informed by available data, operational considerations, scientific evidence, and monitoring of the epidemiological situation and best practices both in Canada and internationally.
• In response to the increasing spread of COVID-19 in the Peoples’ Republic of China and limited epidemiological and viral genomic sequence data available on these cases, the Government of Canada put in place temporary pre-boarding test requirements and arrival screening for travellers arriving on flights originating from the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong or Macao.
• These requirements came into effect at 12:01 a.m. EST on January 5, 2023, and remained in place until 12:01 a.m. EST on March 17, 2023.
• As of March 17, 2023, air travellers to Canada on flights originating from the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong or Macao are no longer required to provide evidence of a COVID-19 test result before boarding.
• The Government of Canada continues to work with international partners to enhance genomic sequencing capacity and closely monitors the global epidemiology of COVID-19 and new variants of concerns.
• The Government of Canada will not hesitate to put additional protective measures in place for the health and safety of people in Canada should it be necessary.

If pressed – Rationale

• The decision to end the border measures has been informed by several factors, including:
o the improved epidemiological situation in China;
o Canada’s COVID-19 case counts remain steady and hospitalizations have peaked; and
o data from China, the international community, and aircraft wastewater sampling conducted in Canada have not detected any new variants of concern originating from China

Removal of border measures
Since October 1, 2022, the Government of Canada removed all COVID-19 entry restrictions, as well as testing, quarantine, and isolation requirements for anyone entering Canada.
The removal of border measures was facilitated by a number of factors, including modelling that indicates that Canada passed the peak of the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 fuelled wave, Canada’s high vaccination rates, lower hospitalization and death rates, as well as the availability and use of vaccine boosters (including new bivalent formulation), rapid tests, and treatments for COVID-19.
Effective October 1, 2022, all travellers, regardless of citizenship, were no longer required to:
• submit public health information through the ArriveCAN app or website;
• provide proof of vaccination;
• undergo pre- or on-arrival testing;
• carry out COVID-19-related quarantine or isolation;
• monitor and report if they develop signs or symptoms of COVID-19 upon arriving to Canada.
Transport Canada also removed travel requirements. As of October 1, 2022, travellers were no longer be required to:
• undergo health checks for travel on air and rail; or
• wear masks on planes and trains.
Although the masking requirement was lifted, all travellers are strongly recommended to wear high-quality and well-fitted masks during their journeys.
Cruise measures were also lifted, and travellers were no longer required to have pre-board tests, be vaccinated, or use ArriveCAN. A set of guidelines remain to protect passengers and crew, which align with the approach used in the United States.
Update to Border Measures
On December 31, 2022, the Government of Canada announced new COVID-19 testing requirements for air passengers boarding flights to Canada originating from the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Hong Kong and Macao due to several factors including:
• reports of a dramatic increase of COVID-19 cases in China since the lifting of restrictions;
• limited epidemiological data from China, including low reporting of genomic sequences to international surveillance networks, making it difficult to monitor circulating variants;
• reported low levels of immunity among the Chinese population;
• many hospitals and emergency rooms in Canada are running at full capacity due to a combination of RSV, Influenza and COVID-19, and there was a risk that increased travel to Canada from this region could compound challenges currently facing the healthcare system; and
• expected travel increase due to Chinese New Year in mid-January.

The Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 in Canada Order came into effect on January 5, 12:01 a.m. EST.

Effective January 5, 2023, most air travellers, two years of age and older, arriving on flights to Canada originating from PRC, Hong Kong and Macao were required to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result from a molecular or antigen test taken no more than 2 days before their flight’s initial scheduled departure time. Alternatively, travellers can provide proof of a prior positive test from at least 10 days but no more than 90 days before their flight’s initial departure time.

As of March 17, 2023, air travellers to Canada on flights originating from the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong or Macao are no longer required to provide evidence of a COVID-19 test result before boarding.

While not mandatory, all travellers are strongly recommended to wear well-constructed and well-fitted masks during their travel on planes and in airports, or other crowded indoor settings. Individuals are reminded that they should not travel if they have symptoms of COVID-19. If travellers become sick while travelling, and are still sick when they arrive in Canada, they should inform a flight attendant or a border services officer upon arrival.

Travel advisories
Effective February 28, 2022, the Government of Canada eased its Travel Health Notice from level 3 to 2. This change means that the Government no longer recommends that Canadians avoid non-essential travel to all destinations but advises travellers to practice enhanced precautions when travelling internationally. Travellers are advised to inform themselves of the risks that are still associated with international travel and take necessary precautions.
The travel health notices will continue to be re-evaluated based on the evolving situation in Canada and other countries.

• On October 1, 2022, the Government of Canada removed all COVID-19 entry restrictions, as well as testing, quarantine, and isolation requirements for anyone entering Canada.
• On January 5, 2023, the Government of Canada put in place temporary pre-boarding test requirements and arrival screening for travellers arriving in Canada on flights originating from the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong or Macao.
• The measures were in response to the increased spread of COVID-19 and its variants in China and its regions and limited data available on the cases.
• On February 4, 2023, the Government of Canada extended the measures until April 5, 2023.
• The Order has been repealed and the requirements ceased to be in effect as of 12:01 a.m. EDT on March 17, 2023.