Canada will require travelers arriving in the country to present a negative test dating from less than three days before their arrival, announced several Canadian ministers during a press briefing Wednesday, December 30.
Read also: Covid-19: Canada approves Moderna's vaccine
The government will "
quickly
" demand an "
additional measure which will require all passengers arriving in Canada to have a screening test for Covid-19
" which is "
negative
", indicated Dominique LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.
The measure is expected to come into force "
over the next few days
", he said.
This new measure comes after several cases of contamination with the new variant of the coronavirus circulating in the United Kingdom have been detected in Canada since last week.
Canada has suspended until January 6 all flights from the United Kingdom after the appearance in this country of the new variant.
Travelers arriving in Canada, whether Canadian or not, are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine or face a sentence of up to six months in prison and / or a fine of up to C $ 750,000 ( 478,000 euros).
Visits to the homes of travelers in quarantine by Canadian authorities will also be "
increased in the coming weeks
" to ensure compliance with this measure.
Even though "
most Canadians
" have followed the authorities' recommendations, "
some still travel for non-essential reasons
," said Dr. Howard Njoo, deputy chief public health officer.
“
It's very worrying,
” he said.
On Tuesday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he was "
extremely disappointed
" by his Minister of Finance, Rod Phillips, who had gone on a trip to the Caribbean and urged him to return home "
immediately
".
Read also: Canada extends suspension of flights from the United Kingdom until January 6
Several provinces, including Ontario and Quebec, have imposed lockdowns in many regions during the holiday season and are facing record daily cases this week.
Canada's international borders have remained closed since March to foreigners, with the exception of those whose presence on its territory is deemed essential.
"
Only about 2% of all reported cases of Covid-19 in Canada come from trips outside the country,
" LeBlanc said.