Health Minister Patti Hajdu announced Monday that fully vaccinated people entering Canada will not be subject to quarantine requirements from July 5.
“From July 5, fully vaccinated travelers, who are allowed to enter Canada, will no longer be subject to federal quarantine requirements,” Hajdu told a news conference.
Furthermore, fully vaccinated travelers should not take the test on the eighth day after arrival, Hajdu added.
However, Canada will not adjust requirements for partially vaccinated travelers, as recommended by the government’s panel of experts selected, and unvaccinated children will need to comply with quarantine measures.
Hajdu explained that the procedures will remain in force for most categories of travelers in order to protect the public from imported cases.
The minister also confirmed that Canada would not rescind the controversial hotel quarantine mandate, which obliges air arrivals to the country to quarantine in state-designated hotels, citing the danger posed by the variant of covid-19 Delta, which was first detected in India.
Although the Canadian government is not constitutionally allowed to prevent citizens from leaving the country, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Chief Executive Officer has used enhanced border security measures to discourage international travel amid the pandemic.
Everyone entering Canada must complete a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
As of March 25, 2020, violators of the Quarantine Act may be subject to a fine of up to $537,000 and/or imprisonment for up to six months.