Canada will open its doors to vaccinated travelers without requiring a Covid-19 test beginning on April 1, Canadian officials announced on Thursday.
Two years after the pandemic began, the decision is the most dramatic step Canada has taken yet, a report said.
Those who are only partially vaccinated as well as children under the age of 5 will still have to show proof of an approved negative test administered by a lab.
Border agents will continue to hand random PCR tests to some travelers. However, officials were optimistic when they welcomed Americans and other travelers into their country.
“We have it all: beautiful, breathtaking landscapes, internationally acclaimed festivals, premier national parks, and outdoor recreation, diverse options from northern peaks to our downtown cores – and first and foremost, safety,” said Tourism Minister Randy Boissonnault, who joined Canadian public health officials in announcing the change. “The time has come to experience it for yourself.”
The ending of the measure will allow people to make spontaneous trips to Canada again as long as they install the ArriveCAN app. The Canadian government uses the app to collect the vaccination information of incoming visitors.
Canada and the United States jointly closed their border for nonessential travel last March 22, 2020, and began the process of reopening their border last August.
However, traveling to Canada remained a challenge for Americans traveling into Canada. The country demanded proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of their arrival until February 28, when the requirement was relaxed to allow travelers the option to show proof of a lab-administered antigen test.
This story originally appeared on The Buffalo News.
