Canada will likely drop the vaccine requirement for people who enter Canada by the end of September, an official familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Tuesday.Canada, like the United States, requires foreign nationals to be vaccinated when entering the country. It is not immediately known whether the U.S. will make a similar move by Sept. 30.Unvaccinated travelers who are allowed to enter Canada are currently subject to mandatory arrival tests and a 14-day quarantine.North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas said news of the potential change is a net positive for the region’s tourism industry. Travel from Canadians in the North Country is still down 30% from pre-pandemic levels. Douglas said the announcement would come just in time for what is typically a busy holiday shopping season for Canadians who travel to New York during the months of October through December. Douglas said when Canadian officials dropped COVID-19 test requirements for vaccinated individuals in April, it made a “huge difference,” leading to a 70% jump in Canadian travel to the U.S. compared to pre-pandemic levels. Douglas also said he is hopeful that that travelers will no longer have to use the much-maligned Arrive Can App. Currently, travelers heading into Canada are required to fill out a form on the app within 72 hours of their trip.“You have to say when you’re going to cross, why you’re going to cross, where you’re going to be, how you can be contacted,” Douglas said. “There is no question it is restricting the return of travel levels,” he said.Vermont’s Department of Tourism Commissioner said a lift in vaccination requirements at the border would be welcomed.“Any change is positive for us,” said Heather Pelham. “Especially in the northern part of the state for the foliage season and the ski season as well. We’re really looking forward to seeing more Canadian visitors.” Meanwhile, the official who initially detailed the possible change said that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to give final sign off on it, but that the government will likely be dropping the requirement as well as ending random COVID-19 testing at airports.The official spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.Unvaccinated professional athletes like major league baseball players would be allowed to play in Toronto in the playoffs should the Blue Jays make the postseason. They currently are not allowed to cross the border into Canada.When new populist Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre was announced as the party’s leader in Ottawa this month the loudest cheer he got from supporters was when he said he would get rid of the ArriveCan app.Dr. Andrew Morris, an infectious disease specialist at the University Health Network and Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, as well as a professor in the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine, said removing the vaccine requirement should have been done a long time ago.“Zero benefit to ensure people vaccinated. It doesn’t keep cases nor variants out,” he said.
Canada will likely drop the vaccine requirement for people who enter Canada by the end of September, an official familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Canada, like the United States, requires foreign nationals to be vaccinated when entering the country. It is not immediately known whether the U.S. will make a similar move by Sept. 30.
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Unvaccinated travelers who are allowed to enter Canada are currently subject to mandatory arrival tests and a 14-day quarantine.
North Country Chamber of Commerce President Garry Douglas said news of the potential change is a net positive for the region’s tourism industry. Travel from Canadians in the North Country is still down 30% from pre-pandemic levels. Douglas said the announcement would come just in time for what is typically a busy holiday shopping season for Canadians who travel to New York during the months of October through December.
Douglas said when Canadian officials dropped COVID-19 test requirements for vaccinated individuals in April, it made a “huge difference,” leading to a 70% jump in Canadian travel to the U.S. compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Douglas also said he is hopeful that that travelers will no longer have to use the much-maligned Arrive Can App. Currently, travelers heading into Canada are required to fill out a form on the app within 72 hours of their trip.
“You have to say when you’re going to cross, why you’re going to cross, where you’re going to be, how you can be contacted,” Douglas said. “There is no question it is restricting the return of [pre-pandemic] travel levels,” he said.
Vermont’s Department of Tourism Commissioner said a lift in vaccination requirements at the border would be welcomed.
“Any change is positive for us,” said Heather Pelham. “Especially in the northern part of the state for the foliage season and the ski season as well. We’re really looking forward to seeing more Canadian visitors.”
Meanwhile, the official who initially detailed the possible change said that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to give final sign off on it, but that the government will likely be dropping the requirement as well as ending random COVID-19 testing at airports.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
Unvaccinated professional athletes like major league baseball players would be allowed to play in Toronto in the playoffs should the Blue Jays make the postseason. They currently are not allowed to cross the border into Canada.
When new populist Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre was announced as the party’s leader in Ottawa this month the loudest cheer he got from supporters was when he said he would get rid of the ArriveCan app.
Dr. Andrew Morris, an infectious disease specialist at the University Health Network and Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, as well as a professor in the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine, said removing the vaccine requirement should have been done a long time ago.
“Zero benefit to ensure people vaccinated. It doesn’t keep cases nor variants out,” he said.
