The Federal government is taking five steps affecting travel in response to a new variant of concern that early reports say is vaccine-resistant.
Today the World Health Organization (WHO) deemed variant B11529 or ‘Omicron’ a variant of concern.
Canada’s Health Minister Yves Duclos told reporters about the new measures this afternoon.
“So first we are banning the entry of foreign nationals into Canada that have travelled to southern Africa in the last 14 days,” he said. “Second, for all those who have arrived in Canada in the last 14 days, we are asking them to quarantine now and to go for a COVID-19 test. Third, Canadians and permanent residents and those with the right of entry into Canada will be tested on arrival – they will quarantine until they get the results of a negative test – if the test is negative they will be allowed to go and quarantine in a safe and appropriate manner. They will be tested once more until they finish their quarantine. Fourth, Global Affairs Canada is going to issue a travel advisory asking all Canadians not to travel to southern Africa for the time being. Fifth, Canadians returning from that region who need to transit through a particular country, will need to be tested in that country before they will be allowed to come home.”
The new variant is concerning because of its large number of mutations.
Scientists continue to work on determining how transmissible it is and it may take weeks to fully understand its impact.