For now, those who travel to Canada, in addition to doing a mandatory 14-day quarantine, must present a negative test for COVID-19. Photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS / Paul Chiasson
He Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau said this week that will not hesitate to impose more restrictions on travel abroad, “without prior notice”, so he even recommended to those who plan to leave the country in the coming weeks cancel it.
Trudeau argued that before newly identified variants of COVID-19, which have the World Health Organization concerned, travel abroad needs to be minimized and truly essential.
For the Canadian Prime Minister, vacations in these uncertain moments are not worth it, as there is a high risk of contracting the disease or of being stranded outside of Canadian territory.
The country’s health authorities are closely monitoring the latest discoveries about variants of COVID-19, found in the UK and in Brazil, so Trudeau warned that he might impose new restrictions, without prior notice.
The decision to travel or not is, however, up to the citizens, because although the recommendation is not to do it, there is no prohibition as such.
A poll published earlier this year found that the majority of Canadians would agree if the federal authorities imposed a total ban on travel.
Meanwhile, both the country’s airlines and travel agencies continue to offer packages for travel, especially to sunny destinations, with flights leaving the country daily.
Trudeau said that while people have the right to travel, government authorities also They can impose sanctions on those who put other people’s lives at risk.
Some of the rules that must be followed by those arriving in Canada, since March 2020 when the health crisis began, is a mandatory 14-day isolation.
In addition, those who wish to come to Canada must present to the airline, before boarding, a negative result for COVID-19.
Failure to follow these rules could result in fines of up to $ 75,000 or even jail for up to six months.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has asked those with planned vacations abroad to cancel them. Photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS / Adrian Wyld
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19,000 cases in Canada and nearly 18,500 deaths
This Wednesday, the Public Health Agency of Canada reported through a press release that since the beginning of the pandemic they have been registered in the country 719,751 cases of COVID-19, while 18,266 people have lost their lives due to the disease.
There are currently in Canadian territory a total of 71,055 active cases. The average number of new cases per day is 6,469 (week from January 13 to 19). “COVID-19 is spreading in groups of all ages, however, throughout the country the Contagion rates remain highest among people aged 80 and over, those that run a greater risk ”, warns the public agency.
In the last seven days and according to the data of the provinces and territories, an average of 4,737 people are being treated daily for COVID-19, of which 878 are in intensive careto. “This situation continues to put pressure on local health resources, especially in areas where infection rates are higher,” he warns.
Likewise, Public Health Canada assured that although the number of new cases with the virus variants is limitedor, recent cases of people who have not traveled suggest that a community transmission may already be taking place. “Although some variants seem to have a higher infection rate, which could translate into an increase in infections, we know that current health policies, as well as individual practices, are effective.
According to information from the agency on Tuesday, so far, there are 23 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 variant which was initially reported in the UK, while two correspond to the South African variant.
The same Public Health reported that close than 200 international flights have landed in Canada with at least one positive COVID-19 case.
Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief of Public Health Canada, asked for his part that all planned trips be postponed, to help reduce the spread of the virus.
RCI with information from the Public Health Agency of Canada and The Canadian Press.
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